The Hockey Stop

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is an easy target for criticism.

"Optional," cries out the self-annointed experts on the Washington Post comment boards (because he skips the optional practices occasionally.) "Tries too hard," says former NHL player and TV announcer Jeremy Roenick on Versus. "Most entertaining," but not the greatest player in the world and doesn't make his team better, said ESPN analyst Matthew Barnaby earlier this year when Ovechkin and the Caps were in the depths of their season-long scoring struggles and losing streak. Not a leader. No heart. Overweight. Parties too much. Not focused. Chokes in the playoffs. The list goes on.

Perhaps Tuesday night was the tipping point for Ovie. The Russian superstar is used to getting booed every time he touches the puck in opposing arenas. To me it is the ultimate sign of respect when an opposing player is feared enough that he is booed by the opposing team's fans. But the Caps have been struggling mightily at home of late, and the Verizon Center crowd has been getting restless. When the Caps again flamed out on their atrocious power play, I heard the loudest boos from the fans rocking the red since Ovie signed with the Caps. The boos were raining down on Ovechkin while he was carrying the puck out of his own zone.

Well, all the Great 8 did was turn all those boos into crazy cheers when he scored a vintage Ovie goal in overtime against the New York Islanders to send the Verizon Center into a frenzy.

Say what you want about Ovechkin. And the haters will continue to be critical of Ovie and the Caps until they win that elusive Stanley Cup. But no one can argue with Ovie's work ethic and passion for the game. Even when he is not scoring goals and things aren't going his way, he is always, and I mean always, the hardest working player on the ice. He always has a positive attitude, even when the team is slumping. And it is the other things he does to help his team when he is going through scoring droughts, like punishing every opposing player who gets in his way with bone-crushing body checks.

Anyways, here is Ovechkin's amazing OT goal tonight against the Isles. Enjoy.

It's not often you get the chance to see all three of New York's hockey teams in two nights, but that is exactly what I did. I'm in NYC for the holidays and decided to take in a couple of games -- Sunday night the Devils-Leafs at The Rock and Monday night the Rangers-Isles at MSG.

Newark and Manhattan are only a few train stops apart, but the atmosphere inside of the Prudential Center and Madison Square Garden could not have been any more different.

Sunday, New York and most of the Eastern Seaboard got pounded by a massive snow storm that dumped over 20 inches of snow along with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph. It was the sixth largest snow storm on record in NYC and newscasters and public officials were advising people to stay home.

So what did I do? What any crazy hockey fan would do. I walked from my sister's apartment in Battery Park City through the snowy, wind-whipped winter night to the World Trade Center PATH station and traveled via train to Newark's Pennsylvania Station and then somehow found The Devils' home arena in the almost zero visibility weather.

What happens if you have a hockey game and no one shows up? That's almost what happened in Newark on Sunday night as the Devils and Leafs, both last place teams, dropped the puck shortly after 7 p.m. before a nearly empty arena. The announced crowd was a little over 5,000, but the actual attendance was probably closer to 3,000. And there were lots of hardy Leafs fan in the stands waving Canadian flags and Maple Leafs banners, and chanting "Go Leafs Go!."

Toronto won the game 4-1 in a snoozer. This was professional hockey at its worst. The highlight of the night was a fight between the Devils' 100-million-dollar bust Ilya Kovalchuk and Toronto's Captain Dion Phaneuf.

The Devils' sorry season continues. They have a long way to go to becoming a winning organization again. It really is rock bottom at The Rock. But returning interim head coach Jacques Lemaire knows how to win, guiding the Devils to the Stanley Cup in 1995. He took over for fired coach John MacLean and while suffering through losses in his first two games, once he has some time with the team, there should be more positive results on the ice.

But one thing I've got to say is that the brave souls in Devils jerseys who ventured out to the game on Sunday night were mostly respectful and cheered on the Devils, albeit sometimes sarcastically, despite the many opportunities for the boo birds to come out with awful play after awful play by their home team. On the other hand, the Leafs fans were just plain obnoxious, at one point chanting "Kovalchuk Sucks!" and celebrating like they weren't actually a team in last place in the Northeast Division with only 30 points.

The attendance was so sparse (New Jersey transit shut down all bus service at 8:30 so many fans left early) that halfway through the second period, the PA announcer said that all ticket holders in the upper bowl could move down to ice level. Soon after that there was a mad dash to get the best seats as close to the ice as possible. It was great for the Leafs fans who got to harass NJ's struggling goalie Martin Brodeur, who is suffering through one of his worst seasons as a pro, and then his replacement Johan Hedberg.



As the game ended, a disgruntled Devils fan stood up and yelled "You're trash! You're garbage! You belong in a garbage can!" And the frustration continued at the exit as some angry fans started yelling when the staff ran out of free Devils cheerleaders calendars. Then it was off into the cold, snowy night in Newark and a train ride back to Manhattan that took twice as long as usual because of the snow storm.

Later that night I watched a replay of the Islanders game on TV. There were only a few hundred people who made it out to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. And most of those people were Montreal Canadiens fans, making the game have the surreal quality of being a road game for the hometown Islanders. With the Long Island Rail Road service suspended because of the snow, and the roads virtually unpassable, it is a mystery how these Habs fans managed to make it out to the game. They didn't have much to root for as the Isles won 5-1. But even with the win, it had to have been disconcerting for the Isles players to look up and see a mostly empty arena except for a few hundred fans cheering the visiting team.

The next night I took the subway to the most famous arena in the world -- Madison Square Garden. While the snow was still fresh on the ground and the bitterly cold wind was causing snow drifts, thousands of New Yorkers piled into MSG to cheer on their beloved Blueshirts as they prepared to play the Isles.

I didn't have a ticket so I waited outside until after the game had started and was lucky enough to nab a $185 club seat for $40 from a fan who was desperate to get rid of his tickets. The seat was awesome, only about ten rows up and just to the right of the visitor net.

While MSG is certainly showing its age (there are plans for a multi-million dollar renovation), there is a special feeling being in this historic complex. It is humbling to see the Rangers Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters, dating all the way back to the 1920s, as the Original Six franchise this year celebrates its 85th anniversary.

The atmosphere was electric as the Blueshirts put on a show for their loyal and boisterous fans by dominating the Isles after breaking a tight game open in the second period to skate to a 7-2 win. The 18,200 seat arena was nearly full for the big win despite the snow.

Unlike the few Devils fans and zero Islanders fans the night before, on the night after the historic snow storm Rangers fans entered the cold New York night happy with a win.

The Washington Capitals had a busy time at the trade deadline, adding toughness to the front and back lines. Carolina defenseman Joe Corvo (pictured above) is heading to Washington for Brian Pothier and prospect Oskar Osala. The Capitals also picked up Hurricanes forward Scott Walker in exchange for a 7th round pick in the 2010 draft. Washington also nabbed Wild center Eric Belanger for a 2010 2nd round pick. And in a surprise move the Blue Jackets' Milan Jurcina will be returning to Washington. The Caps traded Jurcina and Chris Clark to Columbus earlier this season for Jason Chimera. The blueliner played for Team Slovakia in the Winter Olympics.

More trades at the deadline:

Sabres forward Clarke Macarthur to Thrashers for 3rd and 4th round picks

Blue Jackets forward Raffi Torres to Sabres for defenseman Nathan Paetsch and 2nd round pick.

Ducks goalie Vesa Toskala to Flames for goalie Curtis Mcelhinney.

Lightning forward Jeff Halpern to Kings for forward Teddy Purcell and 3rd round pick.

Canucks defenseman Mathieu Schneider to Coyotes for defenseman Sean Zimmerman and 6th round pick.

Full list of completed trades at NHL.com

Roundup of yesterday's trades:

The Ducks nabbed Hurricanes defenseman Aaron Ward in exchange for goalie Justin Pogge and a 2010 or 2010 4th round draft pick.

Defenseman Derek Morris is returning to Phoenix as the Bruins traded the player to the Coyotes for a 2011 fourth-round pick. The Bruins then replaced Morris by picking up defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and a prospect from the Panthers in exchange for Craig Weller, Byron Bitz and a second-round draft pick.

The Blues nabbed forward Matt D'Agostini from the Canadians for Aaron Palushaj.

Well it didn't take long for the Isles' Andy Sutton to find a home -- and it isn't with the Capitals. The Ottawa Senators acquired the veteran defenseman in exchange for a 2010 second-round pick that formerly belonged to the San Jose Sharks.

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed 48-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios. The three-time Stanley Cup winner would be the oldest NHL player if he returns this year. The deal is for $700,000 and Chelios will stay with the Chicago Wolves minor league team unless he is claimed on waivers.

Right hip injury sidelines Flyers goalie Ray Emery for the season.

The Sports Network is reporting that a deal is in place to trade Toronto forward Alexei Ponikarovsky to Pittsburgh for prospect Luca Caputi.

Former New York Islanders announcer and veteran Washington, D.C. sportscaster George Michael died on Dec. 24 at the age of 70 from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Before he paved the way for ESPN SportsCenter with his pioneering highlights show, "The George Michael Sports Machine," Michael was a color commentator for the Isles for several seasons in the 1970s.

Links:

AP Obituary

Tribute from the Washington Post's Michael Wilbon

The Washington Capitals paid tribute to Michael on their website with the following statement:

George Michael, legendary sports director and anchor at WRC-TV 4 in Washington, D.C., and the creator and host of the George Michael Sports Machine, passed away Thursday. Michael, who covered the Capitals for decades, was 70. Ted Leonsis (pictured above being interviewed by Michael on the "Sports Machine" in 2002), Dick Patrick and George McPhee shared their recollections of a Washington sports institution.

“George Michael was one of the most respected, thought-provoking and honest reporters I ever encountered,” said Ted Leonsis, Washington Capitals majority owner. “George never skirted the tough questions and always provided ample opportunity to discuss differing points of view. His knowledge and candor made D.C. a much better sports town. Our thoughts are with George’s family and many friends.”

“I remember first meeting George in the early 1980s,” recalled Dick Patrick, Washington Capitals president. “He had unbelievable energy and passion for sport and people. ‘The George Michael Sports Machine’ show established a new ground in covering and reporting on sports. George always was well prepared for any topic, fair in his commentary, opinionated in his comments and entertaining in his delivery. He was a role model for sportscasters in D.C. and around the country.”

“George Michael held D.C. sports teams to the same high standards he demanded of his broadcasts, and the entire community appreciated him for that,” said George McPhee, Capitals vice president and general manager. “He was passionate and fair, a professional whose impact in this city and the entire sports world will continue to reverberate for years to come.”

The woeful New York Islanders recently selected Canadian phenom John Tavares as the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft. While the franchise tag has already been stamped on the Gretzky-like goal scorer, he might help the Isles do more than just win games. Tavares might help keep the hockey team on Long Island. A lot of weight on the shoulders of an 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, eh?

The Islanders have been playing their home games in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, since 1972 and the arena is starting to show its age. The Coliseum is currently the third oldest arena in the NHL after Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena and NYC's Madison Square Garden. (The Penguins are getting a new arena, Consol Energy Center, set to open for the 2010-2011 season.) The arena also has the smallest capacity without standing room.

So, the familiar story is repeated again: the Isles owner Charles Wang is threatening to move the team unless his redevelopment plan of the 158-acre Coliseum site is approved by the town of Hempstead.

The "Lighthouse Project" has already been approved by Nassau County and an environmental impact review has been completed. Wang is just waiting for Hempstead to approve a change in land zoning. If approved, construction is likely to begin in 2010.



Which brings me back to Tavares. If he lives up to the hype surrounding him and turns the Isles into playoff contenders again, and just as importantly fills seats and creates a buzz, then there is less of a chance Wang will move the team to Hamilton, Winnipeg or Kansas City (the Isles will play an exhibition game in Kansas City, which has rattled the nerves of some long-time Islanders fans).

Representatives from Hempstead must have taken notice of the media attention focused on Long Island after the Isles drafted Tavares. Heck, Islanders fans even protested in support of a new arena back in February.

It is undeniable that one player can turn around the fortunes of a struggling franchise. Look at how Wayne Gretzky put Southern California on the hockey map and eventually paved the way for Sun Belt franchises such as Phoenix (I know, bad example). Or how Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have revived the Penguins and Capitals.

Wang wants an answer from Hempstead by October. Traffic is the biggest concern for Hempstead supervisor Kate Murray. She recently joined Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Sen. Charles Schumer to press for federal transportation funding to deal with traffic issues. Wang recently met with Murray and Suozzi and sounded a more optimistic tone in regards to keeping the team on Long Island.

Perhaps he should bring Tavares to a town council meeting to make the pitch. He is the best reason to ignite the Lighthouse project.

Otherwise, how does the Kansas City Islanders sound?