NHL News Recap: Penguins Launch Russian Radio Show
- Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:59 AM
- Written By: Josh Marks
The MLS, NBA, NFL and MLB have all courted the increasingly lucrative Spanish-language market -- from Yankeesbeisbol.com to Los Spurs.
Now, the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins are attempting to reach out to hockey's growing Russian-speaking fan base and perhaps challenge the Kontinental Hockey League by launching the "NHL in Russian" show on HD radio.
The 30-minute weekly broadcast will debut on Nov. 24 with guests Evgeni Malkin and Igor Larionov.
With the emergence of the KHL and the decline in Russian-born players on NHL rosters, there should be plenty to discuss on the show. Regardless, this hopefully is a sign that the NHL is committed to giving Russian-speaking players a voice and at the same time bringing the game to Russian hockey fans in not only Moscow and Kiev, but Little Odessa, West Hollywood and other Russian neighborhoods across North America.
Another Russian is back to his old tricks. Alex Ovechkin returned to the Caps lineup against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night after suffering a shoulder injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets and missing five games -- the most in his career.
The Caps won 4-2, thanks in part to Ovechkin's only shot of the game -- a scorching slap shot from the point that beat Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. With the goal, Ovie is now 8 points behind the L.A. Kings' Anze Kopitar for the scoring lead. Ovechkin has 15 goals and 9 assists in 15 games to Kopitar's 14 goals and 18 assists in 22 games.
But the real heroes of the night for the Caps were grind-it-out players Matt Bradley and Quintin Laing. Bradley suffered a severe gash above his left eye from a nasty first period fight, which set the tone for the rest of the game. Then with the game tied at 2 in the third period, Bradley scored an Ovechkin-like goal on a breakaway to put the Caps in the lead for good.
Laing, who has already endured the Swine Flu this season, took a puck to the face while sacrificing his body to block a shot. He likely broke his jaw and will be out indefinitely as he gets examined at a New York area hospital.
