I do not agree in any way with the suspension of Alex Ovechkin for 3 games. I support Alex Ovechkin. He is our bedrock player – our Captain; and he and his family know that we are always here to support him.
The decision has been made; and George McPhee will address the media today with our thoughts and concerns about the suspension.
While there is a lot of emotion and concern today – we have a game to play tonight against perhaps the best team in the league and we then have 2 games on the road against division foes, after the All Star game.
Tonight – we will play without Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green and Nick Backstrom. These are our three best players and represent a third of our payroll; there is simply no way short term to make up their productivity unless other players step up – and we must be focused on winning and not on being shorthanded. Our team mentality must and will stay positive.
It is possible that the road trip after the All Star game will also see us play without 3 of our core players as well.
So – it is time for us – truly – to hang together – band together – play as a unit- be supportive; scratch out some wins or points in any way that we can.
There are 35 games left to play this season. 70 standings points to be had.
As this article attests – we have to be productive as to gaining points at home – while playing better on the road. This article maps out the road ahead.
In times of strife and high emotion; it is best to act with clear thoughts and to stay positive.
Go Caps!
Proud of Ovi for staying back and supporting his team in lieu of supporting the NHL’s tv ratings for the All Star Game and also thankful that the Caps management & ownership support his decision. Last night was one of the best games of the season, because of how the team responded when adversity was staring them in the face – no Ovi, no Nicky, no Greenie! Congrats to Matty P! Was anyone surprised to see AO waiting to be the first to ‘congratulate’ him for his hatty? I know I wasn’t… 2 POINTS! Go Caps!
The hit was bad. You cant leave your feet, and he not only did that he hit the other guy in the head. Ovi deserves what he got (probably a bit more). The real issue is the baby sulking in a corner and boycotting the allstar game…way to let down the fans! baby
The way everybody is trying to spin this, like it’s Ovechkin’s fault. It just isn’t right. I think OV should stop doing anything for the league. Interviews, commercials, whatever. It’s obvious they don’t care about a superstar of his magnitude. Maybe, Ted, you can get involved in the KHL, and my favorite owner and my favorite player can go be dominant in a league that would respect them? Pens suck, Crosby is a whiner, and I’m proud the Capitals have a Captain who truly leads with PASSION on and off the ice. Thank you.
It’s so important for us to stick together right now. Truly great teams overcome adversity. We are a great team that is destined for amazing things. We have a championship team in the making. I just know it. We have great leaders like Ted to get us through this. Ovie will come back and score 30 goals. Green will come back and shut down stars like Malkin in the playoffs. This is our year! We will overcome!! ROCK THE RED!
Although I know Mr. Leonsis, that you are very protective of your players, I do believe you are a fair man. I believe Alex Ovechkin should have been called and fined/suspended. Ovechkin has been warned before by the refs not to lunge off his feet before hitting a player on the boards. If you look at the replay on the video, he lunges (media calls it “launch”) and his feet come off the ice before the hit – you just can not do that. I believe that this is how Alex learned to play defensive hocky, growing up in Russia, because I have seen other Russian hockey players, who lean forward (or backward, as the case may be), and literally lunge at the other player with their feet coming off the ice. This habit needs to be broken, or the fines and the refs warnings will continue to occur, unfortunately.
As always, thanks for all the improvements you have made – it has been wonderful. (I am a Wizards and Mystics ST holder, and a former Caps Partial Plan holder). Also, the entertainment at the Wizards game has gotten 100% better, expecially with the Blow-Ups of the Caps, Wizards, and Nationals mascots and their dancing at the Wizards game, absolutely priceless. You’ve done a great job of improving the sports experience for the fans. Thanks.
Ted your a great owner and the fans love you, but the food choice and quality at the Verizon center is still hands down the worst of 17 different pro stadiums I’ve been too. It’s not just the stale buns or undercooked sausage or even the flat soda I’ve received 3 times outside of section 412. It’s the green turtle and hard times stations that are a killer. At Nationals stadium places like 5 guys or Bens chilli bowl actually taste like the real thing. At Verizon center it seems its just a name for the restaurants. It’s sad to say that a Dunkin Donuts is the best food distributor at the Verizon Center. With all said and done what matters most is the team and I love our Caps and you do too…..I’ll be rocking the Red from section 412 Row Q seats 22-24
I will stay poistive all right. I’m excited for the 2nd half of the season. This is when it all comes down to the wire, with a few trades (I think we need offense & defense), and with better strategies and determination, we can go far.
I’m disappointed that more folks aren’t commenting and showing their support for you and the Caps. What are we, a bunch of bandwagon fans? Do we only support the top 3 players? Do we only support the team when it’s winning?
Oh, I totally agree. Sometimes, in a fit of PASSION, players skates leave the ice. It’s only normal that a player with PASSION like Ovechkin would sometimes get a little carried away. That’s what rocking the red is all about, anyways. PASSION. FREE OV!
Very well put Ted…and very disappointed in the NHL as a whole as well as the coverage from hockey media giant TSN. Bob McKenzie went on twitter the other night and called out Alex Ovechkin. They did on the air and social media but not one mention of the hit on Matt Hendricks….Then Ovechkin gets suspended and Michalek does not. I don’t know what is a suspension now and what is not. While it does not matter if I know this is a major gray area for the players more importantly.
With all that being said….Let’s Go Caps and lets gain some standings points…
(it’ll just be really strange with out #19 or #8 on the ice tonight…first time I believe since 2005)
I can’t believe that he was suspended! That check was completely legal! If anything it should have just been a small fine. Three games is an absolute outrage in my opinion. Shanahan needs to look at the hit again.
In other news, the caps are definitely going to win the division. I believe in Dale Hunter. He is infinitely better than Bruce. Go caps!
Perfectly legal?
Have you taken the time to read an NHL rulebook?
It’s illegal to leave your feet to make a check.
It’s also illegal to target the head.
Ovy did both. If his name wasn’t Ovechkin he would have received a stiffer suspension.
Your blind bias has clouded your reason. You are wrong about the targeting of the head, as even Shanahan admitted it was first a shoulder contact. You also fail to acknowledge the blatant hypocrisy of suspending Ovechkin and doing nothing to Michalek for his penalized and admitted elbow to the head of Hendricks. That is the reality. Those are the facts.
Ovechkin is a REPEAT offender, yes hockey has changed for the safety of the players, so he better learn to change his game.
I don’t agree with the amount either, I think it should have been 5 or more Games.
Ridiculous. So you condone a player leaving his feet before contacting another player? Please. If it was the other way around you’d be for the suspension.