Hawks brace for Ovechkin's one-of-a-kind pace

As a hockey fan, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville appreciates Alex Ovechkin's one-of-a-kind talent.

"He's amazing to watch," Quenneville said. "He's an amazing player. He's fun to watch, he's entertaining, he's passionate - I don't know if anybody goes harder to the net or shoots the puck harder or even hits harder than him.

"He plays at a different level or pace than most players and he brings it every shift, which is very unusual."

Ovechkin makes his first United Center appearance in two years today with the Washington Capitals, leading the NHL in scoring with 96 points. Ovechkin has 44 goals and is plus-41 for the league's top team.

Ovechkin plays the game like no one else.

"He plays at a different pace than we've ever seen," Quenneville said. "If you look at the top players they almost slow it down a little bit because they're so gifted with the puck and make plays and see plays. I look at Mario (Lemiex) and Gretz (Wayne Gretzky) and those guys.

"(Sidney) Crosby is a faster player than some top guys as well, but (Ovechkin) plays at an almost out-of-control pace, in control."

Trying to contain Ovechkin will rest largely with Hawks defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook

"He does a lot of things that make him tough to play against, but I don't know if he's the best," Keith said. "He's one of the best."

The Capitals have four players with 60 points or more in Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom Alexander Semin and defenseman Mike Green.

"Everybody fan-wise will say, 'Ovechkin, Ovechkin, Ovechkin,' then you throw in Green, you throw in Semin, Backstorm - they have a lot of weapons and a lot of offense," Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell said. "They have the No. 1 power play in the league, so we'll have to stay disciplined that game."

Set your clock: It's another 11:30 a.m. start today for the Hawks for the second straight Sunday to accommodate NBC's national telecast.

But this time there's a twist. With the clock moving ahead an hour for daylight savings time, it will be like a 10:30 a.m. start.

"It's going to be a little different," Brian Campbell said. "But we got some experience last week from 11:30."

Down on the farm: Rockford has set its roster for the playoffs and it doesn't include 2007 second-round draft pick Akim Aliu, who was recently demoted to Toledo of the ECHL.