CBC-Sports

This week's work: Capitals at Leafs

December 11, 2009 12:19 PM | Posted by   Jim Hughson  

Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game.

This week's work: Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Dec. 12, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)

The script:

Since his arrival on the NHL scene like a hurricane wind - or a breath of fresh air - Alex Ovechkin has been widely regarded as the most exciting and to many the best player in the NHL.

The breathtaking speed and reckless abandon with which he plays the game, as well as his pedal to the medal lifestyle off the ice, have made him the top ticket seller in the game with a remarkable cult following. Outside of Pittsburgh everyone loves the Great 8. Or did until recently.

Knee-on-knee hits, a slew foot and a couple of other borderline or dirty plays (depending on your opinion) have people choosing sides. For the first time in his career, Ovechkin has polarized opinions on his play. He’s either an out of control raging bull that needs to be reigned in or simply a great power forward whose ferocity and passion is unmatched.

Ovechkin has attributes that few others in the game today or any day have had. Goalies fear his wicked shot that might come from anywhere. Defenders are backed off by his incredible speed and all players have to be wary of his presence because they could be the victim of a thunderous hit any moment.

The last great MVP-calibre player to have that hat trick of shot, speed and fearsome unpredictability was Mark Messier and until age caught up with him, no one suggested his game needed to change. They were afraid to!

Ovechkin’s last game in Toronto was probably as quiet a night as he’s had on a Canadian stage. He’s steamed at a suspension that cost him almost a hundred grand and at suggestions he needs to tone it down. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tunes it up for this tilt.

On the hot stove:

Another great Capital debate is whether or not Mike Green should make the Canadian Olympic team. He was seen as a near lock after leading all league defencemen with 31 goals last season. He hasn’t scored with the same frequency this season (five goals through 30 games) but his shot total is about the same and his play has picked up in the last month to the point where his offence isn’t in doubt.

His place on Team Canada will be decided on his ability to defend and he’s a plus-11 playing 25 minutes a game against the opponent’s top players.

ISO camera on:

For much of the early season, it was impossible to identify Toronto’s top line. They had three groups that were virtually the same and a fourth that could fight. Now the pecking order is clear.

Over 13 games in the last month, Matt Stajan, Phil Kessel and Alexei Ponikarovsky have scored 19 goals and 38 points while going a combined plus-12 and drawing top checkers on the road. Stajan, and not Kessel, leads the trio with seven goals and eight assists in those games and a plus-7 rating.

The second wave of Mikhail Grabovski, Jason Blake and Niklas Hagman has a nice little roll going as well with seven goals and 20 points over the last five games.

It wasn’t long ago that opponents and fans had a tough time knowing which Leafs to watch.

Tape-room topics:

The last time Washington played in Toronto, Francois Beauchemin went to Leafs coach Ron Wilson and asked for the assignment to play against Ovechkin and he did a great job. Ovechkin had a quiet night and the Leafs won 2-1 in a shootout. No reason for a change unless the load is shared with Mike Komisarik who was out of the lineup for the last visit. Ovechkin’s shift length (average: 65 seconds) sometimes dictates tag team checking.

Lately, in games on home ice, Wilson has matched a line of Wayne Primeau, Lee Stempniak and Nikolai Kulemin against his opponents’ top offensive lines. Wonder if he’ll try that against Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom?

From the stat pack:

The game features a match-up of two of the top five picks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft - Backstrom and Kessel. Here’s how the top picks from that draft have fared:

Most career points, players drafted in 2006 (through games of Nov. 10)

  • Nicklas Backstrom, Was - 190

  • Phil Kessel, Tor - 142

  • Jonathan Toews, Chi - 141

  • Jordan Staal, Pit - 137

  • Peter Mueller, Pho - 95

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