Extra! Extra! Alex Ovechkin makes good defensive play!
Indeed, Ovi’s backcheck (video) Sunday in a 3-0 Capitals victory over Minnesota was so impressive (or surprising) that it made the pages of the Washington Times.
Washington had a 1-0 lead and a power play with the chance to put the offensively challenged Wild away. But when the puck bounced out to defenseman Dennis Wideman, he turned into a pylon as Minnesota forwards Mikko Koivu and Cal Clutterbuck streaked up the ice.
It was a two-on-one with Ovechkin as the one, usually a recipe for trouble. But Ovechkin didn’t quit on the play, poking the puck away from Koivu and preventing what could have been a momentum-turning short-handed goal.
Ovi’s commitment to defense has come under fire many times in the past – in fact, it came under fire Friday after Winnipeg scored in overtime (video). So while we’re not sure it’s a good thing that not quitting on a play earns a story in the newspaper…um…congratulations?
Related: Ovechkin’s belly-pat celebration is getting a lot of pub