Getty Images Perhaps it’s just the nature of being the NHL’s highest-paid player,* but Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin gets noticed even when he’s not on the ice.
Much like most of this series, his frequent absence was rather glaring. Ovechkin received 16:25 minutes of ice time of the Capitals’ 2-1 overtime win in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins. To give you an idea of where that ranks, here are the Capitals who received more time on ice during the contest:
Mike Green: 24:55 time on ice
Roman Hamrlik: 24:52 TOI
Karl Alzner: 24:41 TOI
John Carlson: 22:29 TOI
Brooks Laich: 20:37 TOI
Troy Brouwer: 19:13 TOI
Dennis Wideman: 17:56 TOI
Marcus Johansson: 17:45 TOI
Nicklas Backstrom: 17:35 TOI
Jay Beagle: 16:39 TOI
Seeing defensemen get more ice time is perfectly reasonable, even if Ovechkin has had times where he was the overall team leader in that category, too. Yet Ovechkin being ranked sixth among forwards in ice time is a real eye-opener.
For some, the Capitals’ results are impressive enough that Dale Hunter will be lauded for courageously parking his star on the bench (particularly when Washington was in the lead). Yet with three more rounds to win, the obvious question is: can the Capitals go deep with this strategy?
Ovechkin has said all the right things – more or less – but one wonders how far Washington can really go without their superstar getting big minutes.
* – At least from a salary cap hit perspective.
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Shutting down the Blackhawks will do that.
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But Drew Doughty says Galiardi is the biggest diver on the Sharks, so there.
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For a headshot on Flyers prospect Taylor Leier.
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Good news for Phoenix hockey fans? (Or just…news.)
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Goalless Toews: adversity ‘something you have to face come playoff time’
May 23, 2013, 2:34 PM EDT
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“You don’t win a Stanley Cup without going through something like that.”
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It’s not pretty.
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What happens to the coach if the Rangers get swept tonight?
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Alfredsson says postgame comments ‘probably’ taken out of context
May 23, 2013, 1:24 PM EDT
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When asked if Ottawa could come back from a 3-1 series deficit against Pittsburgh, he said “probably not.”
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“That’s the way he plays.”
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It would cost them $24 million over 14 years.
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AP
Cue the buyout speculation.
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Enroth ‘ready’ to take Sabres starting goalie gig: ‘I want to play more’
May 23, 2013, 11:34 AM EDT
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Will he be challenging Ryan Miller for it?
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The home of the Oilers’ AHL affiliate.
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He’s frustrated nothing got done in Calgary.
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The big unveiling will be on June 4.
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He constructed the silver medal-winning team at the 2010 games in Vancouver.
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AP
“It’s been pretty quiet for a while now.”
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“(Gillis’) fault all the way.”
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Additionally, Chicago will play Detroit and the Kings will host the Sharks.
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Thursday’s collection of links
