Here now is part 2 to the exclusive interview that Pavel Lysenkov and Sovetsky Sport snagged with Alex Ovechkin in Moscow, following his donation to the youth hockey school of Dynamo Moscow.

It's only two-and-a-half years until Sochi. Are we ready for the Olympics?

"Not yet. We need to take a lesson from the Canadians, who painstakingly prepared for Vancouver. They not only wisely selected their players, but they also thoroughly studied their opponents, both NHL and every KHL player who was on Team Russia."

"Canadian GM Steve Yzerman personally studied how many Russians played. He knew us inside and out."

Maybe we should go to the Canadian system, where the GM is responsible for everything, and under him are the coaches and players?

"I don't know as far as the system goes. But I don't see anything wrong in this if we copy the Canadian system in preparation. There has to be a video trainer, we need a concise plan for each game. "Run and gun and we'll meet at the net?" That's not going to work in Sochi."

Continue reading this post »

If you thought Alex Ovechkin's offseason consisted solely of a whirlwind of hookahs and beer, you'd be mistaken. Alex has also been playing the role of dutiful role-model in helping out youth hockey programs at his old alma-mater, Dynamo Moscow, as we see in this interview with Pavel Lysenkov in today's issue of Sovetsky Sport.

On Saturday, Russian National Team forward Alexander Ovechkin participated in a charity event where he played the role of ambassador for the Gillette company, presenting a check from the company for one million rubles to Dynamo's youth hockey program. Following the event Ovechkin gave an exclusive interview to Sovetsky Sport, and today we present the first part of the interview.

The event took place on the seventh floor of the "European" Shopping Mall, where the rink is located. For those who aren't aware, the practice rink for Washington is also located on the seventh floor of a large mall, so Ovechkin felt right at home.

Alexander first conducted a master class for fans, and at the request of the public he demonstrated the trick he performed at the All Star game in Montreal where he picked up the puck on the shaft of his stick. He also showed off the "puck between the skates" feint invented by Firsov. And if somebody had asked him to demonstrate his well-known behind-the head goal he made against Phoenix, a highly animated t-shirt clad Alexander would have immediately raced out on the ice and roared down the rink, but it was now time to start the official part of the ceremony.

The Gillette company made a charitable contribution in the amount of 1,000,000 rubles (for verification, the amount was also spelled out on the check) for the development of youth hockey. Ovechkin presented this check to the director of the Dynamo school, Mikhail Titov. In place of the standard autograph on the check, Sasha boldly wrote out "Thanks for everything! From Ovi".

"How could it be otherwise?" asked Ovechkin surprisingly at the start of our interview. "This is my alma mater. I grew up in Dynamo. This is where I was pointed down the true course. If you have the opportunity, you have to help."

When you were young did famous players give you any equipment?

"Oh yeah, during the Spartak Cup I was given Zhamnov's stick. Another time Larionov gave me a stick. That was a long time ago but I still remember it. And now I understand just how much it means for the young kids when stars of the game give them gifts."

An interesting picture has been making the rounds on the internet, of a young Ovechkin in a Buffalo jacket. Where did you get it?

Continue reading this post »

Semyon Varlamov, recently returned to service after suffering another injury, spoke with Slava Malamud of Sport-Express and shared his thoughts on his spate of injuries and the recent rumors of his interest in the KHL.

The match against Carolina a few days ago was somewhat revealing-- almost a microcosm of Semyon Varlamov's season. Everything was good, at times even great, and Bam!- spontaneous calamity. Then, once again, all is good until the next bit of unpleasantness.

Semyon started the game in fine form. Under the noise of the familiar "Var-ly" chants he defended authoritatively during a frenzied first period, where both teams seemingly forgot how to play defense. In the second period he let in a goal which wasn't the least bit his fault, and then stopped a penalty shot by Chad LaRose with a quick poke check.

The thunder started rumbling in the third period, when a weak sharp-angle shot by Jeff Skinner somehow found its way past the goaltender's equipment. The classic softie can be nerve-wracking for anyone, but Varlamov wasn't fazed and just a few minutes later he stopped a killer shot from Eric Staal by going into the splits and blocking a shot to the far post. But in the end he lost the shootout, allowing in two out of three shots.

For a goaltender desperately fighting for the number one spot in the playoffs, that is barely sufficient. But after a series of injuries, such small steps forward are, in a way, progress. As for the reasons for the injuries, I was given some information by somebody who has more than a passing knowledge about such things.

"He has a very explosive style, and Semyon has a tendency to abuse it" said Washington goaltender coach Arturs Irbe. "The muscles can't take it, and he simply has to learn to play a bit more sparingly. It's a matter of age."

Isn't there a concern that all of these injuries will become chronic, like with a lot of goaltenders?

"This happens with much more serious injuries, when the tendon detaches from the bone. Damage like that never fully heals. But Semyon doesn't have anything like that. He is now in 100% form. With time and enough self discipline he is learning how to play so that he doesn't overload his body."

The goaltender himself assessed his physical abilities with typical youthful confidence.

"Physically I'm 100% ready for everything" said Varlamov after the game. "I wouldn't have played otherwise. I was already feeling great during the first game in Ottawa."

Do you remember if you had a similar injury last year in Tampa? You went down on your knees in a routine situation and you pulled your groin? Was your current injury something like that?

"I'm not authorized to talk about it. I simply cannot disclose the nature of the injury."

Can you talk about the psychological impact of the injury?

Continue reading this post »

Just as he did around this time last year, Andrei Nazarov stopped in to Washington yesterday while on a coast-to-coast scouting trip for the Russian National Team, looking over potential players for the upcoming IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. He attended the Washington-St. Louis game and Sport-Express reporter Slava Malamud was able to catch up with him during and after the game. Here's to hoping the Capitals can be of absolutely no use at all to him.

ANDREI NAZAROV. RUSSIAN TEAM

When Andrei Nazarov arrived in Washington a year ago, having just assumed his current position with the Russian National team, there was a single and modest inscription on his accreditation: "Andrei Nazarov. Russian Hockey". In the opinion of your correspondent, the head coach of Vityaz is the perfect personification of the Russian essence of this red-blooded sport. Besides, on the matter of personification, everyone has their own opinions. Some people feel that a leopard with a washboard is the ideal mascot for Russia at the Olympics, and others prefer a shot glass and a saw. And everyone is right in their own way. By the way, Nazarov and I were also able to discuss the mascot topic. He considered the shot glass brilliant, but he also didn't object to the leopard. Large and powerful people are, as a rule, tolerant.

But in Washington the personification of Russia is still fulfilled by homo sapiens. Unshaven, partially toothless, covered from head to toe in the latest fashion-you know who I'm talking about. And Nazarov came expressly to watch him and another just like him (okay, it also didn't hurt that it was also Alexander Semin's birthday).  And this time the inscription on his accreditation was more specific: "Russian National Team".

By the way, at the very outset the coach made it clear that he, of course was gathering information, but Vyacheslav Bykov and Igor Zakharin would be making any decisions. However, after fielding a question about Washington's Russian forwards, the cards were slightly revealed: "These two will be the best players on the national team even seven or eight years from now"

In general, the objectives of the coach are understandable. A visit with Ovechkin and Semin is necessary mainly so that the players feel that they are being remembered and honored. And as for goalkeeper Semyon Varlamov, whom the coach would not mind evaluating, according to Nazarov there is some anxiety at HQ. Semyon is once again injured-something with his knee, and apparently it is serious. Varlamov not only wasn't able to practice, he didn't even come to the game. This caused speculation that the goaltender required serious medical (and possibly even surgical) intervention, but the club still claims that he could return any day.

"I just popped in to Washington for the day" said Nazarov. "I'm terribly tired. This is my third game in three days, and yesterday after the game in Newark I walked for a long time around New York."

 Will you only be speaking with Ovechkin and Semin after the game?

"Yes, I won't keep them very long. Tomorrow I have to fly to Phoenix to see Ilya Bryzgalov and Pavel Datsyuk."

 How many NHL goaltenders are you looking at right now as potential candidates?

Continue reading this post »

If your head has grown weary of trying to calculate all the new possible line combinations and you're ready to take a break from all things trade-related, I bring you this nice little diversion. In yesterday's issue of Sport Express, new Hershey Bear and Cap hopeful Dmitri Orlov shared his thoughts on his immediate and future plans with fellow countryman Slava Malamud.

"In Novokuznetsk it's freezing right now" said Dmitri thoughtfully, stirring milk into his cup of coffee. Orbiting Dmitri Orlov were, in order of proximity: your correspondent, the Verizon Center press box, stands filled with screaming Washingtonians, and the capital of the United States of America being shaken by hurricane force winds. But there wasn't any freezing weather nearby. And that pleased Dmitri.

While Washington was enthusiastically losing to the Rangers, the young Russian defenseman and I chatted about his arrival from abroad and his plans for the near future. Orlov has, like all things Russian, been warmly embraced by the Washington fans as a precautionary measure, and has already practiced a couple of times with the Capitals and readied himself for his first match with the Hershey Bears (in which, by the way, he had an assist) the next day.

"I really, really like it here" said Dmitri, meaning the Washington arena and its mad inhabitants. "Honestly, I don't even want to go to Hershey! I'd rather just stay here. I was able to practice three times, twice with the entire team. I'm very satisfied, although it was difficult. Now I know what I need to work towards."

What's the situation with your contract?

"We bought out the last year of my contract with Metallurg, so next year I most definitely will be here. I'll come this summer to training camp and try to make the team...By the way, I was a little surprised that I was recently invited to practice. It's just that I wasn't able to attend the road game with Hershey since I didn't have a Canadian visa."

Has that problem been resolved?

"Yeah, I have just sent in all my documents."

How good is your English?

"Not very good right now. There are a lot of Russian guys here who are always helping me, but I'm trying. It's already becoming a lot easier to understand things, but it is difficult to say anything. I think that Kugryshev will help me in Hershey."

Have you had a chance to observe the AHL? What are your thoughts about this being considered a grinding league?

Continue reading this post »

In today's issue of Sport-Express, Washington Capitals prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov speaks with Mikhail Zislis and shares his feelings about being selected for the Russian national Euro Hockey Tour team and the KHL All-Star team (aka Team Jagr, where he will be on the third line with former Cap Sergei Fedorov ). He also shares some thoughts on where he might find himself next year.

Last fall Valery Belousov, head coach for Chelyabinsk Traktor, compared his 18 year old forward Evgeny Kuznetsov to Evgeni Malkin. From an observer's standpoint, the compliment seemed quite premature at the time. However, Kuznetsov is now blooming like a white mushroom under the August rain.

At the beginning of January he became one of the heroes of the WJC when he and the rest of Team Russia won gold medals in the tournament, the first in eight years. Following his return from Buffalo, all the teams in the KHL have suffered at the hands of Kuznetsov. In ten games since the first of the year he has scored 14 (7+7) points, and has six goals in a five game scoring streak. Not surprisingly, this forward is a hot commodity.

He was selected for the Russian National Team during the Swedish stage of the Euro Hockey Tour, and then was invited to Jaromir Jagr's team representing the Eastern Conference in the (KHL) All Star Game, becoming the youngest ever participant in the history of the games.

"The invitation to the All Star Game in St. Petersburg was a surprise for me" admitted Kuznetsov. "First my agent called and congratulated me. I wondered ‘what is he congratulating me about?' Then I went on the internet for myself and learned all the details."

Did you know that up until now, no 18-year old has ever been invited to this game?

"Yeah, it's really great; especially since it turns out I'll be on the same team as some great masters of the game. Several of them are twice as old as I am. I think I might even be a little nervous about that. I don't know any of them personally, but they are regular guys, so everything should work out just fine."

During practices at the World Juniors you performed some small sketches, such as your portrayal of the "entrance of the injured hockey player". Are you ready for a "one-man show" in St. Petersburg?

"No, there won't be anything like that (smiles). After all, the All Star Game is a serious event. But if they give me the chance, I will try to astonish the fans purely by my hockey techniques."

A few days ago you made a gorgeous penalty shot in a game against Dynamo, when you held the stick in one hand. Could you say that you will repeat that shot in the All Star Game?

"If I am allowed to make a penalty shot in St. Petersburg, then I already know how I'm going to do it. But I'm not going to repeat what I did in the game against Dynamo. I have a different variation in mind."

What did head coach Valery Belousov say after the penalty shot?

"He basically asked me to do it differently-more simply. But I disobeyed him again. I couldn't help myself."

The KHL All Star Game has never before been run in an East vs. West format. Will it be essential for you to beat the team of Alexei Yashin?

"It's difficult for me to say, because this will be my first time participating in a game like this. Right now I don't know what can happen, but I want to win in any case."

Following your victory at the WJC, you've been playing an unbelievable game. What's the reason for this big surge?

Continue reading this post »

Alex Ovechkin seemed to be in good spirits following his always-entertaining appearance at the All-Star Game in Raleigh. So much so that he was unusually glib with the cadre of Russian reporters in the locker room afterwards. Intrepid globe-state-trotting reporter Slava Malamud was lucky enough to be amongst the recipients of the Great Eight's rhetorical largess and shared these notes in today's issue of Sport-Express.

Ovechkin is more serious right now, just after the end of the All-Star game, than he has been all weekend. He is walking around the dressing room of "Team Staal" with an incredibly anxious look on his face, clutching a felt-tip pen in his hand and saying something to himself. The Russian forward enthusiastically collects souvenirs, and right now he is getting autographs of his teammates-on his game jersey. When he entered the arena on the red carpet on Saturday, Ovechkin was the one signing all the autographs, but now he has decided to play the role of enthusiastic fan.

By the way, he isn't alone in this. His Washington partner Mike Green also packed a heavily graffitied jersey into his bag, and Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist ripped his nameplate from his locker and has hidden it away somewhere.

Meanwhile, Ovechkin has been dragged into a dense circle of journalists, from within which he fearlessly hews at English-language questions. In Russian, Alexander also spoke with gusto, and for the benefit of Washington's press-attaché he was more than generous on this occasion.

"Somehow we scored four goals really quickly" Ovechkin recalls the beginning of the match. "And immediately thought: ‘Well, this is going to be easy'. And then, well you saw for yourselves."

What are your impressions right now?

"Everything went great! It was a great atmosphere. Only I didn't have much playing time. I played around 15 minutes, but I wanted 30."

Why did you toss your stick at Duchene's feet?

"Just for fun. Plus, there had never before been a penalty shot in an All-Star game, so now I've gone down in history."

So you were thinking to yourself, ‘Hey, let's go down in history!' ?

"I thought, ‘Why the heck not?'. It was funny, and the fans liked it. It was a good All-Star game moment."

And you didn't want to take a penalty before it was over?

"No, that wouldn't do any good. I wanted to check somebody into the boards, but I never got a chance."

It seemed that you tried to play more with your partners than to score yourself. For example, you tried to help Staal make a goal.

"Yeah, I wanted him to make his fans happy. The same thing happened when Kovalchuk played in Atlanta, and everybody was working for him, and he didn't score. It's a good thing that at least Staal was able to."

Did you like the new format better than the "East vs. West"?

"Yeah, it's a fun format. I think that next time it will be even more fun."

And you weren't jealous of the captains? Did you not want to run the draft yourself?

"No, that is actually a difficult task."

So you aren't putting in your candidacy for "Team Ovechkin" in the 2012 All-Star games in Ottawa?

"Well, let me get there first! And with the way I'm playing..."

Continue reading this post »

Following the disappointing overtime loss to the Flyers last night, Pavel Lysenkov with Sovetsky Sport caught up with Semyon Varlamov to get his thoughts on the game and the prospect of a season opener in Russia next year.

Why was Neuvirth pulled?

"The coach said he was feeling a little discomfort."

Was that unexpected for you?

"A backup goaltender always has to be ready for something like this. But I was given a heads-up that Michal wasn't 100 percent and he might ask for a change. Knowing this, I was preparing for the game."

How did you get beat in overtime?

"Their defenseman rolled up to me and shot under my glove. I didn't have time to react."

In the last game against Ottawa the team started out down 0-1 but scored two goals in 45 seconds. Tonight you were down 0-2 and scored two goals in 40 seconds. What's going on with Washington?

"The fact that we are playing badly the first two periods. We aren't scoring. Only then do we start saving ourselves. We need to give it our all for the entire sixty minutes. We are constantly allowing the first goal. But this is a very powerful league. To fight back, you have to break through the other guy's defense-you have to put forth a lot of effort. It isn't always successful. So we need to score first and carry the game. Then everything will be okay."

Half your team was walking around the ice. It wasn't as much a game against Philadelphia as a military operation!

"We always play aggressively against the Flyers. But not everyone has fresh injuries. Games are played every other day, and guys get hit with pucks, they take them in their joints. So the season is carried out with injuries of varying severity."

What do you think of Sergei Bobrovsky and his debut season in the NHL?

"I know Sergei well, we ran into each other on the national team. Bobrovsky is having a great season. He's a great guy! If you make it to the NHL in your very first season you've already played 28 games, then that shows that the guy is talented and he works a lot on himself and his mistakes. And you can achieve a lot of success if you don't stop."

What are they saying in Washington about the trip to Russia?

"Nothing. Nobody knows if we are going or not. But I wouldn't be opposed to flying home. The game could be really lively! If we play an exhibition game against a KHL team-of course everyone will be rooting against us. Although of course you can find some who would support Washington. There can be darkness in other people's soul..."

When Carolina played in St. Petersburg last year, it was very surprising. SKA came out like it was war, even though it was an exhibition match. Do the Capitals understand that they might be in for a bashing in Russia?

"I didn't see their game. But if Washington plays against a KHL team, then they will play at full force. Even if it is only a preseason meeting."

Okay, 27 questions actually. As a New-Years treat for their readers, the editors of Sport Express put together a collection of ....mmmm, interesting... questions for the two top figures in Russian sports, Andrei Arshavin and Alex Ovechkin. Boris Levin and Slava Malamud put the questions to them, and Andrei and Ovi provided the answers.

What did you most fear about going and working abroad?

Arshavin: The unknown. I moved to a totally different life, and up to the very end I couldn't imagine what was waiting for me there. That and I didn't know the language very well.

Ovechkin: The language barrier.

Right now, what is the number one thing you would advise to someone following in your footsteps to play abroad?

A: Theoretically speaking, the most important rule is this: the younger you are, the easier it is for you. And one piece of practical advice: if possible, absolutely talk to your friends and acquaintances living in the country where you are going. This will help avoid a whole lot of mistakes and most of the wasted expenses which you couldn't even realize before you left.

O: This is what I would warn about: learn the language. And it will be difficult.

What type of training do you dislike the most?

A: Cross country, running long distances.

O: Running. Of any type.

Can you cut your training short if you get tired or do you absolutely have to force your way to finish it?

A: I've never really cut short training due to tiredness. Coaches, it is true, sometimes say "that's it, you're finished, hit the showers". But it is extremely rare when I quit a training session before finishing it.

O: Of course I'll finish it! If you are tired, it's best not to train at all.

How fast do you run the 100 meter dash?

A: It's been a while since I've timed it, if I've ever timed it at all. Soccer players are interested in much shorter distances - 30 meters, or 60 at the most.

O: I don't know. I'm sure one of our coaches at Washington has that number, but I've never asked. I'm sure it's not under ten seconds. And that's a pity.

Where do you think the referees are more unfair- in Russia or abroad?

Continue reading this post »

After the stunning third-period comeback by Team Russia at the World Juniors to win the gold, Slava Malamud with Sport-Express called up team alumn Semyon Varlamov to get his reactions.

The telephone call found Varlamov at Dulles airport, where he was seeing off his sister as she flew back home.

"I'm ecstatic" said Semyon. "They guys were simply amazing! I am so proud! I've been wearing my Team Russia outfit all day. Look, people are staring at me again. Let ‘em look!"

What was your take on the game itself?

"Personally, I think that it started badly. The Canadians were playing a lot better, and they had opportunities where they could have even scored more. Still, when you are behind by three goals, you still have a chance. But if the Canadians had made a fourth goal, that would have been it. You'd just drop your hands. But Bobkov got right into the game, and the guys went into the third period with a great attitude. In the third period, I basically saw only one team on the ice. The Canadians were totally flat."

You yourself played in junior championships (Varlamov won silvers in 2006 and 2007-S.M.). Do you remember the team ever being at such an emotional pitch?

"I only saw the finale, and I watched it with great pleasure. The way the guys were celebrating was super. You just can't find the words to describe such a feeling. I'm very happy for them and I'm sure that all of Russia is celebrating with them. Those people who really love hockey all watch the junior championship. Because youth hockey is really interesting! When I was little, I always loved to watch it to see how the older guys played, and I still watch it with no less interest."

From your goaltending point of view, what was the significance of swapping out Bobkov for Shikin?

"Well, it happens that sometimes things just aren't going well for a goaltender. but Shikin was basically playing normally. It's just that when the score is 0:3, you have to change something, and the coach often changes goaltenders. This shook up the team. Bobkov saved the first 2-3 shots and showed his self confidence, and that passed itself along to his teammates. And I'm sure the coaches said just the right things to the players. And when Tarasenko took one upside the head in the second period, that also spurred the guys on. All in all, everything went right for the Russian team yesterday."

Always-outspoken Viktor Fedorov, world-renowned Russian coach and father to former Cap Sergei Fedorov, has some frank criticism for the current state of affairs with the Washington Capitals, which he reveals in this interview with Igor Larin of Sport Express. Come on, don't hold back, Viktor. Tell us what you really think.

***

What's going on with Washington? Was our first question to Fedorov senior.

"I've been worried about this team for the last few years. It's one of the few teams in the NHL which play interesting, I would even say, exhilarating hockey. However, right now there is a serious crisis in the Capital's camp which, as far as I can tell, the local press is underestimating and is slowing them down."

What do you see as the crisis in Washington?

"First, they have some management problems. The recruitment and selection policies are poor, and the majority of trades only hurt the team. The second problem, which might be the most important, is the coaching. He (meaning head coach Bruce Boudreau-I.L.) was brought up to the team from somewhere on the farm-and they expect the Stanley Cup out of him. It's a pity that so many people to this day don't understand that you don't win such serious trophies with unprepared amateur specialists."

So how do you account for Washington's improvements in Boudreau's first years there?

"It's very simple: the team was being carried along by the trio of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. Plus the second line was stable with Sergei Fedorov and Viktor Kozlov. Then these two players left and the experiments began. First, the center Brendan Morrison was brought in to replace Fedorov, but he failed and has been gone from the team for while. Then they started experimenting with Mike Knuble, Tomas Fleischmann, and some other unremarkable players. But nothing worked out: the team has been limping along on second and third lines. I won't even mention the fourth. And even if they can make it through the regular season with only one solid line, they won't be able to do much in the playoffs with that depth."

Has Ovechkin given up on this season?

"I'd never say a single bad word about Ovechkin. He and Semin carry that entire kolhoz. The load on him is huge. Ovechkin is studied and analyzed and the best defensemen are put up against him. That's perhaps one reason for the slight dip in his statistics. Basically it is very difficult for him."

"And one more important point. The team has left the defense of Ovechkin to chance, which seems quite strange. The fighter, King, sits in deep reserve, heavyweight defenseman Erskine doesn't know how to fight, and Bradley is a middleweight that nobody is afraid of. As a result, nobody stands on ceremony with Ovechkin. Did you see what the Ranger, Brandon Dubinsky, recently did, flying into Sasha with his fists? If it had been the North American Sidney Crosby in his place, I have no doubt the entire Pittsburgh team would have flown out on the ice. But it was all peace and quiet..."

Is the forceful defense of the star players really such an important principle?

"And how! Frankly, I'm not sure Sergei Fedorov would have become one of the best players in the league in the nineties without Kocur and Probert on the team during his debut. What a one-of-a-kind pair! Especially Probert, who was probably the best "policeman" in the history of the NHL. I remember how back at the beginning of the nineties many were simply afraid to come to Detroit-it was futile to go up against these guys. In many respects, therefore, my eldest son started out quietly. And this was back in the NHL where the hits were on an order of magnitude greater than they are now. And where the sticks sometimes never dropped below shoulder height."

Did you hear that Probert died a few months ago?

"Yes, he had a hard lot in life. Several times he would get off track, and go in to rehab. But in Detroit they adored him, the players and the fans."

Let's get back to Washington. What is your prognosis: how will the team do this season?

"The humiliating series of defeats will end sooner or later. But with the current alignment of forces in the club, I'm afraid that the Capitals won't be able to do anything in the playoffs. But I will empathize for the team of Ovechkin, Semin and Varlamov. Good luck to these great guys!"

Everyone seems to have something to say about Alexander Semin's prodigious goal-scoring -- his detractors grind their teeth and call it a fluke and his legions of loyal followers are basking in the glow of delicious vindication. But what does Alex himself have to say about his play so far this year? Well, that master of the well-turned phrase, Slava Malamud of Sport-Express, caught up with the Snarling Siberian following his recent romp over Tampa Bay, so read on, dear reader, read on!

Well, we told you that it would be "Ovechkin vs. Stamkos" and "Stamkos vs. Ovechkin". We discussed whether or not we had reached the NHL era of not only Alexander the Great and Sid the Kid, but also of Steven the Macedonian (unlike Alexander, Stamkos is Macedonian on his father's side). And while we were debating the relative qualities of these three super-scorers of today's NHL, perennially-forgotten-by-the-hockey-media Alexander Semin came out on the ice with the aforementioned Ovechkin and against the aforementioned Stamkos and was far and away the absolute best player of the game.

For Semin this was somewhat of a debut-for the first time in a long time he was playing left wing, which really is his natural (going by the right-hand grip of his stick) position. But it doesn't matter, because he can rocket one in from any side, making goaltenders' heads spin.

At the seventh minute of the second period Alexander converted on a two-on-one, finishing off a pass from his partner with a powerful snap while on his knees. At the ninth minute on the power play he again scored on a one-timer after some crisp passing from Backstrom and Ovechkin. At the 12^th minute he scored on a two-man advantage when Backstrom passed to him through the crease, somehow getting the puck between the goalkeeper and defenseman, and Semin attacked the net from almost a zero angle.

In America, they call this a "natural hat trick", when you get three goals one after another. It took ten minutes to pick the hats off the ice, even though some Tampa players were actively helping the cleanup crew, whacking at the fanatical oblation with their sticks. By the way, this is Semin's third hat-trick in just over a month and the second in a row playing against Tampa. Stamkos may be the best forward in the NHL today, but apparently there is something about Semin that makes him go flat when they meet face-to-face.

After the game, Alexander took a long time to come out of the shower and the trainer's office (nothing serious, just some prophylaxis and routine maintenance), but he finally appeared. After a hat-trick you can't avoid your duty to talk with the press.

Left wing is your normal position, but in Washington you've played right wing for a long time. It seems it wasn't very difficult for you to get the hang of your old position again. All three goals were from almost the exact same spot on the ice.

"The first goal happened because we were on a two-on-one, and the other two-well they just happened. In both cases we were on the power play, and I always play that spot on the power play, so that's nothing new. Although it was still a little strange. I was off slightly. But it's nothing, I'll get used to it."

As far as the last goal, it seemed that Backstrom didn't have a chance to make a pass. Did you really expect a pass?

Continue reading this post »

The Thanksgiving Holiday may be behind us, but that's no reason to stop giving thanks for the veritable cornucopia of blessings that Caps fans are enjoying. A three game winning streak. A healthy Semyon Varlamov. And a Slava Malamud interview in Sport-Express with that selfsame healthy Varly after his shutout against Tampa Bay.

In the middle of the first period, Semyon Varlamov went under. Not under a feeling of responsibility, or the realization of just how important this match was for him. Nor with depression or a tide of painful memories. And certainly not under the gun. Varlamov went under the net. Washington Defenseman Tom Poti hit the back side of Varly's goal and tipped it straight onto the goaltender. Then, apparently worried by the absence of a whistle, he pushed on it even more, adroitly snaring Semyon. "Thank you, friend, comrade and experienced veteran", is surely what Varlamov was thinking when he finally recovered from the shock of his unexpected capture.

Fortunately for the goaltender, this proved to be his most difficult moment. Playing in his second match in a row, Varlamov once again was victorious and racked up his first shutout of the season. He appeared totally self-assured, and towards the end of the third period when the end was in sight, there was a standing ovation and the traditional cry of "Var-ly! Var-ly!".

Realizing I should immediately knock on the nearest piece of wood, it should be noted that no obvious signs of injury to Semyon or his groin were detected. He moved fluidly and quickly from side-to-side, he was able to get up and down lightning fast, and he guarded the net gracefully. The only worrisome thing was that due to Tampa's rare visits to his net there was a strong likelihood that Varlamov would doze off, fall down and hurt something. But that never happened. We just had Poti sneaking up on him with a net.

"Finally!" and thus, with a sigh of relief, Varlamov started to share his post-game impressions.

Continue reading this post »

The press is a fickle mistress. Like moths to the flame, they are inexorably drawn to the one who is shining brightest at the moment. Alex Ovechkin felt that firsthand after the recent Thrashers game when John Erskine and Matt Hendricks were getting all the post-game locker room love. Luckily, true droog Slava Malamud was there to make sure Ovi didn't get too lonely, and was able to get this nice little interview which was published in todays issue of Sport Express. If you still have a hankering for some more Ovi after finishing this, you can check out Alex Ovetjkin for a translation of some quick Q&A between Ovi and Sovetsky Sport.

***

To play badly yet still win certainly indicates quality. Or at least the difference in it between yourself and your opponent. In their last two games Washington has played badly yet still took three points out of four. Ergo, the team is good.

For example, in the most recent home game against Atlanta, the Caps totally blew the second period. The crowning moment of their incomprehensible exhibition was a blunder by Alexander Ovechkin on the power play. Letting the puck squirt into neutral ice, the Russian forward sped after it and then tried to turn through center and return to the blue line. And that's when he bumped into Andrew Ladd, who had inconspicuously closed in on him, and who immediately rushed the net with his partner to even the score.

But in the first period, Ovechkin scored in the second minute (the puck somehow found a hole in either the goaltender's equipment or his body), and then brilliantly played a two-on-one with Alexander Semin. Semin, by the way, continued his scoring series to eight games. And having finished off Atlanta in the third period, Washington continued the hallowed tradition of winning all games in which the Siberian scores (there are already nine such games this season).

The team's top scorer, Ovechkin, found himself in unfamiliar solitude after the game (reporters ran to talk with the heroes of the night-- the hirsute defenseman Erskine and forward Hendricks) and shared his impressions with your Sport Express correspondent.

If you play well, you win, and if you play not so well, you still make points. Is the regular season not becoming boring?

"No way! Our schedule is such that we played a lot of games against our division rivals. We've won them all and come away with six points from our main competitors. It's great, what can I say?"

This game turned out strange. The second period you totally blew it.

"I wouldn't say we blew it, but we made some mistakes. It's good that we got it together in the third period and won. In the second, of course, I made a big mistake and allowed them to score shorthanded."

You basically didn't see Ladd during that episode?

"Yeah, I just didn't notice him. But in any case I didn't have to turn to the center-it would have been better to simply discard the puck along the boards back to their zone. I thought I was long past Ladd, but I just looked up and he had already lifted my stick and was on his way."

But once again you played well with Semin in the first period. You guys have been playing really well together lately.

"Yeah, really good. We have a fantastic mutual understanding, and the coach knows that."

Fess up, you just want to help your best friend earn a new contract in Washington.

Continue reading this post »

[As promised, here is the full course meal hinted at by our appetizer the other day. This full interview by Slava Malamud with Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin appears in today's issue of Sport-Express. Bon Appetit.]

Ordered to be Angry

Slava Malamud, Arlington

Ordered to be angry. Strongly recommended to fret and fume. The question of when to bang your head against the wall, however, requires further study. And to drive home the official theme of the coming season to the Washington players (who have just returned from their vacations), the club gave them all t-shirts to wear under their uniforms. The back of the shirt is inscribed with the motto "Stay Angry". You could translate it as angry, aggrieved, frustrated, but best of all-vicious. This year Washington plans to capture the Stanley Cup through this, the most powerful, passionate, and dynamic of human emotions.

Last season, by the way, the saying on the shirts was a bit more solemn- "Get Ready". Ready for victory in the Stanley Cup. But since the Caps preparedness wasn't on a boy-scout level, all that is left now is to nurse the anger within.

They have plenty of reasons to snarl and paw at the ground with their hooves. Last year's regular season turned into one long coronation process, at the end of which they flew, accompanied by great pomp and circumstance, headfirst into a brick wall. The wall, as often happens in life, proved to be harder than the forehead, and team management came to the realization that what they needed was a strong dose of Dr. Jekyll's formula. So here come the players walking around Kettler, and the spine of each of them encouraging his teammate to gather up the noble rage. Perhaps with such a mindset the next round will end in favor of the forehead.

But anger is a purely personal matter, and not everyone is ready to bring it forth. Washington fans, for example, are insanely happy with the return of their darlings and are bursting through the doors of Kettler like maniacs, just to watch them practice.

SEMIN: SO WHAT IF I'M TRADED?

Under the roar of the huge crowd and to the appreciative tapping of sticks by his teammates on the boards, Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal. Right off the faceoff, a quick shot underneath his opponent. Team A widened the score differential....

The first few days of Washington's training camp at the ice complex weren't overcrowded. On Saturday, however, it was hard to even breath: so many people came to see the first training session of Ovechkin and his teammates that a large number of them had no other choice but to wait outside and lay in wait for their idols in the parking lot. Washington was divided up into three teams, and played for the traditional Duchesne Cup, named in honor of a former Capital. Ovechkin's A-Team was plowing in fine form on its first outing.

The thing is, Ovechkin and his partner (he's such a good friend he shares his name) Alexander Semin either aren't able to get mad or they get mad in their own peculiar way, because both of them returned to the nation's capital well rested, physically prepared, mentally stabilized-and not so terribly angry. In any case, at least not in front of the press. They didn't growl into the cameras and they didn't chew into the microphones.

As for Semin, whose group only trained on this day, he was simply tired. Head coach Bruce Boudreau ran the guys through a full session of suicides, where Alexander leapfrogged the long-legged Czech Tomas Fleischmann without any apparent difficulty.

Continue reading this post »

[He may not wear a toque blanche when working (or maybe he does-- who knows?) but our good friend Slava Malamud does certainly serve up some tasty morsels that leave us wanting more. Tonight he surprises us with this artful amuse-bouche which appears on the front page of tomorrow's edition of Sport-Express.]

Slava Malamud, Washington

Under the roar of the huge crowd and to the appreciative tapping of sticks by his teammates on the boards, Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal. Right off the faceoff, a quick shot underneath his opponent. Team A widened the score differential....

The first few days of Washington's training camp at the ice complex weren't overcrowded. On Saturday, however, it was hard to even breath: so many people came to see the first training session of Ovechkin and his teammates that a large number of them had no other choice but to wait outside and lay in wait for their idols in the parking lot. But yesterday, in the middle of a workday, one or two hundred of the possessed came to watch another scrimmage. Washington was divided up into three teams, and played for the traditional Duchesne Cup, named in honor of a former Capital. Ovechkin's A-Team was plowing in fine form on its first outing, in full accordance with the new team motto for this season "Stay Angry!" In other words, this time just let us at ‘em!..

The thing is, Ovechkin and his partner (he's such a good friend he shares his name) Alexander Semin either aren't able to get mad or they get mad in their own peculiar way, because both of them returned to the nation's capital well rested, physically prepared, mentally stabilized-and not so terribly angry. In any case, at least not in front of the press. They didn't growl into the cameras and they didn't chew into the microphones.

"Yeah so what kind of anger could there be?" dismissed Ovechkin. 

Continue reading this post »

[Ah, the lovely sounds of Autumn bring joy to the hearts of hockey fans. The sharp crack of a frozen piece of rubber slamming into plexiglass. The NSFW chirping of the players on and off the ice. And my personal favorite, the scratching of quill on parchment as our beloved Russian language hockey writers furiously work to capture all the witty bòn móts of our beloved Russian contingency in our beloved nation's capital. Slava Malamud is back in style with this great interview in today's issue of Sport-Express with the newest Russians to take to the ice under the Caps moniker.]

The New Russian Troika in Washington

Slava Malamud, Arlington

Washington (the hockey team) loves Russians, and everybody knows this. We could actually dispense with the qualifier in the previous sentence and look as far back as Gorbachev, where we could see a long history of uncomplicated love, rooted in ancient and semi-mythical times. But we are interested in the present day - cool, hip, and online-- and all things hockey. In this context, Washington's (the hockey team's) love towards Russians starts with Alexander Ovechkin, is centered around him, and it breaths with fierce, reckless youth.

"We can do things that other teams are afraid of" said the Capital's GM George McPhee during the July draft, as he explained the internal mechanism of this colossal love to me. "I know that right now a lot of teams are scared to select players from Russia, but we have a different situation. We have Ovechkin, and there are a lot of guys that want to play in Washington... I'd like to think that we are simply more open than other teams in the league."

The result of this forbidden love was the selection at this very same draft of two Russians, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Stanislav Galiev. The former, as you know, is spending this season with the KHL (along with another potential "Capitalist", Dmitry Orlov), and the latter, who has been playing in North America for some time now, spent all of last week at rookie training camp in Washington. And of course he wasn't the sole Russian there. Along with Galiev in the Capitals camp were 20 year old Dmitry Kugryshev and almost-veteran/almost-American Nikita Kashirsky, who is around 24 years old and has experience playing in some of the most secluded corners of the North American landscape.

Of course, each of the guys has different plans for the future. Only love united them. Washington's love for Russians.

Continue reading this post »

The start of the season must be getting closer, for the Russian-language interviews have started to appear. Here's hoping they start multiplying. Bol'shoe Spasibo to our good buddy Slava Malamud at Sport Express for tipping us to this beauty that appears in the Monday edition of Sport-Express.

"Turning Point" is a stock phrase, and in this instance is not quite correct. What does 22 year old Washington goaltender Semyon Varlamov need to "turn" at this stage of his career? On the contrary, considering his medical history for the past two years, the best thing would be to immediately knock on wood and hope that the guy doesn't turn (or stretch or tear) anything else. So let's not be quite so harsh and simply state that Varlamov has reached a key moment in his career.

After veteran Jose Theodore's contract ran out, the Russian goalkeeper became the most experienced on the team and, therefore, the top contender for the number one spot. That means a real chance had opened up for the young goaltender to become an NHL primary goaltender. That is the first thing. The second thing, with half of last season lost due to injuries and then ending much sooner than Semyon and the club desired, he simply needs to kill all doubt with a successful entrance. This is now a chance for him to prove himself as a stable and high-quality NHL primary goaltender. Third, Varlamov's own first contract is expiring, and that means that his immediate financial future will now be decided. And that means a chance is opening up for him to become a stable, high-quality and financially secure NHL primary goaltender.

"Apparently, they never will learn how to correctly pronounce "Semyon"-groans Varlamov half-jokingly, half-seriously about American commentators. "They've learned how to do it in Washington, but everyone else... I thought that maybe I should just change my name to Sam? How does Sam Varlamov sound?"

Continue reading this post »

As the Monty Python announcer was fond of saying, "..and now for something completely different". No larches here, though; just a most peculiar video clip (with subtitles by yours truly) from a popular Russian late-night satire show. The show is called "Mult Lichnosti" (Animated Personality), which is a play on words on "Kult Lichnosti" (Cult of Personality), which pokes fun at stars of Russian society and politics (Obama and Hillary are also regular targets on the show). This clip below comes from an episode aired back in February of this year, making fun of various stars of the Olympics. As you can see, Alex Ovechkin was an easy target for caricature (along with Russian skating figures Tatiana Tarasova (the announcer), Tatiana Navka (for whom Ovy does a  Beavis and Butthead impersonation) and Ilia Averbukh . Enjoy!

Animated Ovechin in Vancouver- from "Mult Lichnosti/Мулт Личности" (via tuvanhillbilly)

Tip 'o the pen to our good buddy Slava Malamud over at Sport-Express for the heads-up on this analytical piece he wrote for today's issue. Read it, digest it, talk amongst yourselves.

***

At the end of June, Alex Ovechkin will don some audacious and well-fitted suit (if we're lucky, though, it won't be the red vest and tie which he wore a few years ago) and head to the convivial city of Las Vegas for the NHL awards ceremony. Alexander is heading there in the hope of receiving the most coveted award-a very beautiful golden trophy in the shape of a miniature atomic explosion.

And the Russian forward, whom Vyacheslav Bykov called an "atomic power plant" in Vancouver, could very well win this prize. If that happens, then Ovechkin will become the first player since Wayne Gretzky to win the Hart Trophy three years in a row.

However, it's more than likely that this time the majority of North American journalists voted for somebody else, say Sidney Crosby or Henrik Sedin. Okay, no need to be disingenuous so I'll just say it flat out-for Sidney Crosby. I believe that it was for Crosby himself that the majority of them voted. And if that is the case, then Ovechkin will end this season without a single individual prize.

Continue reading this post »

There certainly isn't any drought right now of Russian-language interviews with players. No sooner had I published the Semin interview below when I notice a tweet from our good buddy Dmitry Chesnokov which alerts me to this interview between Pavel Lysenkov and Alexander Semin which just came out in today's issue of Sovetsky Sport.

In the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Alexander Semin was first in the NHL in shots-on-goal with 44. But it was as if the pucks were cursed -- he wasn't able put even one of those shots in the net. But in the game against Kazakhstan the drought ended-two assists and a long-awaited goal! It's odd that with stats like that the game organizers named Kovalchuk, not Semin, as the best player of the game.

"I wouldn't say that it was an easy match" said Alexander. "At the World Championship there isn't any such thing as a run-of-the-mill game."

You made a beautiful pass to Ovechkin through center ice...

"That's just the way it turned out. Sasha was open, and the best thing to do at that moment was to make a pass to him."

After the game against Slovakia there was talk that Team Russia was having trouble scoring with the man advantage. Your special team also didn't score.

"You can't compare one game to another. This time we played better with the extra man. You have to add a little something to each game, and everything will be okay. But generally no team is guaranteed that they can always score on the power play. It's a matter of chance."

Washington was first place in power play goals in the NHL regular season.

"But we're talking about the national team now."

But you can still draw a parallel between the clubs, where you play with Ovechkin. For example, in Washington you had a surprising goal scoring drought.

Continue reading this post »

Continuing the coverage of "our" Russians participating at the World Cup in Cologne, Germany, I present to you a translation of an interview with Alexander Semin by Dinara Kafiskina, which appeared today on the Sportsdaily.ru website. 

Forward Alexander Semin has been and remains one of the leaders of Washington and the NHL. But somehow he didn't have much luck in the first round of the playoffs. In a seven game series against Montreal, Alexander made 44(!) shots on the opponent's goal, but the puck didn't find the back of the net even once.

"I don't even know what to say, or how to explain it. You saw it all for yourself. The puck was simply cursed" said Semin. "Although it seems I was able to score during the season. But it was a totally different story in the playoffs. Whether or not I was totally happy with my game, it's difficult to say. I play the only way I know how. I can't judge myself from the outside."

How about Washington's performance?

"No problem. The season ended great. We were first place in the league. What could be better?"

Before the Olympic break, Washington won 14 games in a row. Maybe it would have been worthwhile to conserve your energy for the playoffs?

"It's difficult to determine what would have been worthwhile and what wouldn't have been. During the regular season we even broke several records. Even during our fight for the Stanley Cup we had every chance for success. We were even leading the series 3:1. But something was still lacking. Nobody, of course, can answer exactly what. But I try not to fixate on it. I don't want to remember it - what's done is done. Anything and everything can happen in life. Next season we just have to pay attention to any and every opportunity in our game. We have to learn from it."

During the playoffs you just couldn't penetrate Jaroslav Halak. Are you going to get your revenge on everyone else at the World Championship?

Continue reading this post »

While most of the team is resting and recuperating, Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Semyon Varlamov have all flown to Cologne, Germany to play for the Glory of the Motherland (aka Team Russia) in the 2010 IIHF World Championship. Semyon Varlamov's participation got off to an inauspicious start when his gear bag with all of his equipment was lost by the airline and he wasn't able to start training immediately. He was soon kitted out in some new gear, however, and Sovetsky Sport's Pavel Lysenkov was able to talk with him yesterday following a morning practice. At the beginning of the article, Pavel noted that head coach Vyacheslav Bykov had told him that Varly would be starting in the Russia-Belarus game.

Following his outstanding performance in the Capitals 5-1 win in Montreal, Sovetsky Sport correspondent Gennady Boguslavsky caught up with Semyon Varlamov and got his take on the game.    

Your good buddy and mine Dmitry Chesnokov was able to snag a quick interview with Alexander Semin. Here is a translation of the article which will appear in tomorrow's edition of Sovetsky Sport

You made 84 (40+44) points in 73 games, reaching the 40 goal mark. How do you feel about that?

"I really wanted to make the 40^th goal. This is an achievement level that should be pursued. Plus, I made my 300^th career point."

Washington became the first team in the history of the NHL to have two Russian players make 40 goals in a season. You won the President's Trophy for being the best team in the regular season. Does the burden of responsibility weigh on you?

"Not at all. We go out on the ice and don't think about anything like that. The season ended and that's how it turned out. But it turned out surprisingly well. Right now I'm talking with you and then going to a restaurant for a team dinner. It's a sin to not pay attention to such things."

Will it be a big party?

"No, we'll just sit and eat and talk. The playoffs are starting already on Thursday."

What do you think of the Canadiens?

"They have a good goaltender. And playing in Montreal is cool. They are crazy about hockey. I like that... I know that we aren't going into any of these series overly confident. In the playoffs anyone can surprise you."

This will be aggressive, powerful hockey.

"On the contrary, I think the playoffs will start out with cautious hockey. Any mistake will be costly. But if someone decides to play against us from a position of power-we don't have anything to fear. Look how many big guys we have in Washington. If we were small it would be a different matter. And we also have experience. This is our third playoff. We'll be approaching these games with a little different attitude."

In the last two years your first rounds went all the way to seven games.

"It's best not to do that. We need to get through the first round as quickly as possible. We need win quickly to conserve strength. The playoffs are long, and your strength will run out at some point."

Former San Jose Shark heavyweight Andrei Nazarov was recently in the states on an East-Coast scouting trip on behalf of Team Russia. In addition to his regular gig as head coach of Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, Andrei is also a coach for Team Russia, which is gearing up for the IIHF World Championship in May. Andrei's job was to scout out which Russian NHL players had the potential for playing for Team Russia in the World Championship.

Upon returning to Chelyabinsk, Sport-Express caught up with him to get his impressions of the NHL teams he saw. While in the states he visited New York, Newark, Raleigh, Pittsburgh and Washington, and had the following to say when asked about the chances of any Russian Caps players making it to the World Championship: (for additional reading, "Fear The Fin", our SBNation counterpart for the San Jose Sharks, recently ran a nifty little "Where are they now" article on the former акула).

***

-You ended your trip in Washington.

"Now there is where they play some Russian hockey! Washington came alive during the second half of the season, when the Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin line basically never left the ice. The guys were having fun, and there isn't another line as brilliant as them in the NHL today! I don't know how opponents in the playoffs can contain that line."

-So the Team Russia coaches aren't really counting on any Russian players in Washington since they're going to go really deep into the playoffs?

"Washington's offense is incomparable. But nevertheless I think we have our guy on the team who can help out. (smiles)"

-Don't keep it a secret-who is this guy?

"With all due respect to my former San Jose teammate and current Washington goaltending coach, I would tell Arturs Irbe that his protégé Jose Theodore is capable of helping out Team Russian."

-So Theodore is a weak goaltender?

"I'm sorry, but I've really said more than I should have."

-Is Semyon Varlamov stronger than Theodor?

"Varlamov is the goaltender of the future for Team Russia. The second season for a young player is always the most difficult, but Semyon has coped exceedingly well with all of the difficulties."

The frustration Caps fans feel with Semyon Varlamov's play is also felt by the young netminder himself, as revealed in this recent interview with Slava Malamud and Sport Express. 

***

You can't call it second season syndrome, because this is actually Semyon Varlamov's first. Last season he only played a few games, and now he is officially considered a rookie. He could be a candidate for the Calder Cup. But that's rather difficult to believe.

First, it's hard to believe because following the rookie's heroic performance a year ago during the Stanley Cup playoffs, Varlamov basically disappeared. Although you couldn't ask for a better debut than to make an unimaginable save against Crosby in the playoffs (followed by a rout in the deciding match by that very same Crosby). Second, it's hard to believe because Semyon's season, which started out so brilliantly, turned into a nightmare. Injury. Another injury. An unsuccessful return before the Olympics. Sitting in the press box in Vancouver. And, finally, two collapses in the post-Olympic period.

In the game against Tampa, Varlamov allowed two goals in the third period, which nearly cost Washington the victory. One of the goals was scored by Vincent Lecavalier, catching the young goalkeeper with a fake shot.

"I really bought it" observed Varlamov, and a quite accurate observation at that. This was one of those moments when a veteran forward teaches a young goalkeeper a useful but painful lesson in craftsmanship.

Against Dallas, everything was going good for Varlamov-again, until the third period. Then, his net was torn into thrice in the first eight minutes, with the last goal entirely the fault of the goaltender. Just like in the first matches of the season, Semyon showed up for the first forty minutes. This, coupled with the robust playing of his colleague Jose Theodore, has so far kept the Russian firmly nailed to the bench.

"I agree, something is not right yet." Said Varlamov in an interview with Sport express. "I don't know what's the matter."

In the game against Dallas, the first two periods of the game were almost entirely in the offensive zone. Maybe you just froze up a little bit?

"No, the lack of shots on goal is no excuse. We were winning this game in every way, we outplayed them. But thanks to the "excellent" play of Washington's goalkeeper, they tied up the score and won."

You are always self-critical, but there is no way the first two goals were your fault.

Continue reading this post »

Thanks to Dmitry Chesnokov for alerting us via his twitters (you are following him, right?) to this piece on the Sovetsky Sport website on the press conference that Alex Ovechkin gave to the Russian press following the crushing defeat by Canada today. 

***

After the game Alexander Ovechkin answered some questions from reporters, and among them was Sovetsky Sport correspondent Pavel Lysenkov

What happened, Alexander?

"We lost the game."

Why did the Canadians turn out to be more powerful?

"Right now I'm not able to answer that question."

Was everything okay as far as mood goes on Team Russia?

"Well what do you think the mood was like on the team?"

But we never seemed to get our game together. Was it nerves?

"There can't be any nerves in a situation like this. We're all adults here, and experienced players. You can't use that as an explanation for our defeat."

What happened to your hand in the third period?

"The puck hit a nerve and pinched it. I couldn't feel my finger so I immediately went to the bench."

The Canadians shut down a lot of our top players, including you. How did that happen?

"They didn't shut us down. We just didn't play our game. At the beginning of the match we got knocked out of our groove when Canada scored a quick goal in the very first attack. It was difficult for us to come up with anything when another team was totally dominating. We took a time-out just to catch our breaths. But we would make one goal and they would make two. It's difficult to play like that."

What did you talk about during the time out?

"Nothing really. We had to calm down. We weren't showing our game. I don't know what was the reason for that. We had to be better in defense, as well as the attack. But we couldn't make anything special happen. And if we made something happen, we needed to score. In games like this in the Olympics, every crucial moment is worth its weight in gold. But the Canadians took advantage of their chances, and we didn't."

"Nabokov and Bryzgalov aren't to be blamed for being scored on. We ourselves-the players on the ice- allowed the Canadians to overwhelm our net."

You don't think that Nabokov was pulled late? His game wasn't there.

"What do you mean, wasn't there? Are you saying that everyone else's game was there?"

Does the final score of 3:7 accurately reflect the parity of the two teams?

"On this day, at this moment, they scored seven, and we scored three. That's it in a nutshell. As far as skill and level of play, I think it doesn't make sense to compare us to the Canadians. It's just that somehow we reconfigured ourselves and got burned out. But maybe it wasn't all like that...it's stupid to try and find a reason right now. We just lost. That's all."

Could you say that the Vancouver Olympics have become the biggest disappointment in your career?

"It's a disappointment for everybody. We wanted to play as the best, but things turned out like they usually do, like a proverb."

What can you say to our fans?

"I know that now a lot of dirt is going to be thrown at us by the press and by people who don't understand anything about hockey. But for those who believe in us and love us, I want to say that we tried and we did everything we could. There weren't any redundant players here. Nobody can say that we had a bad team. We had a great team, and everyone fought. It just turned out that way."