Alex Ovechkin and his Team Russia comrades are now gold medal winners. They defeated the never-say-die Slovaks in the final game of the IIHF World Hockey Championships.
What a difference a week makes for Ovechkin, who goes from zero to hero.
Ovi played only three games for the Russians. Today he added to assists. He also scored two goals earlier this week. He averaged 16:43 of TOI in his three games played.
Former Washington Capitals bench boss, Dale Hunter, kept his captain Alex The GR8 on a tight choker chain for three rounds of playoff games. Ovechkin was routinely parked late in games when his Caps were defending a lead. Hunter divvied up Ovechkin's ice time amongst the Caps grinders like Beagle, Chimera, Ward, and the like. Ovechkin was forced to bite his tongue and was made to support his coach's strategy to play him only 15 minutes per game.
Today. Ovechkin lauded Team Russia's head coach while he praised the Russians team cohesion and the spirit both on and off the ice. The triumph puts Russia head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov on the fast track to take the reins at what will be the most prestigious event in Russian winter sports history.
Glen Hanlon's defensive style got him gassed. Bruce Boudreau's kid gloves approach got him turfed. Hunter flat-out quit the Caps to resume his position with his brother Mark in the London Knight's OHL empire. Hunter likely would have been asked to stay on board as head man had he not resigned his position in Washington.
"We were prepared for the final game," said Bilyaletdinov. "I reminded my team that the Slovak team is very strong. It won against the Czechs, against Canada. We played really well throughout the whole championship."
"The coach is really important for us," said Ovechkin. "The whole atmosphere, the whole system. Everybody understood what we have to do to win. Everybody likes him and plays with heart. He's the best coach in Russia right now. I'm really proud to play for him."
Wouldn't it be a hoot if Caps owner Ted Leonsis makes an attempt to hire Zinetula Bilyaletdinov to Ovechkin and the Caps?
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A well deserved tip of the bucket goes to Sabres D-man, Reggie Sekera who recorded 9 points in 10 games. Sekera was +4, and finished third overall in defensemen scoring behind Duncan Keith and Jonas Holos of Norway. Sekera averaged 19:52 TOI.
Now, the big test is for Sekera to bring this same exceptional work ethic back to Buffalo with him.
Inconsistency has plagued Sekera in his Buffalo tenure. Is this the season that will see him break on through to the other side?
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The NY Rangers will have to play Game 4 without the services of their chief energy man, Brandon Prust.
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