Ovechkin has a passion for the game
When Andrew Ladd was traded to the Blackhawks by the Carolina Hurricanes last month, there was one thing he was more than happy to leave behind -- playing against Alexander Ovechkin eight times a season in the Southeast Division.
Ovechkin, the most dynamic and entertaining player in the NHL as an offensive force, makes his first appearance at the United Center tonight when the Washington Capitals come to town to face the Hawks.
The 22-year-old Ovechkin leads the league in scoring with 102 points and is the runway leader in goals with 58 in 74 games.
Ovechkin is trying to be the NHL's first 60-goal scorer since teammates Mario Lemieux (69) and Jaromir Jagr (62) did it with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.
"I've seen him a lot and he's an incredible player," Ladd said. "He's so dynamic and such a good player, it's more containing him than stopping him most of the time. He's going to have an impact on the game, it's just how much impact you let him have."
While Ovechkin's talent is immense, so is his love for the game and that joy shows through each time he or one of his teammates scores a goal.
"The biggest thing about him is how excited he gets when he scores or his teammates score," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "That's passion, and he's got lots of it."
"He's the prime example of a guy you want to watch," said Hawks rookie Patrick Kane. "He has fun playing hockey."
Ovechkin acts like he just won the lottery each time he bags a goal.
"Life is beautiful," Ovechkin said in January at the All-Star Game. "You have to enjoy life every day, every minute. Especially with what I've got; I'm living the dream. I'm in the NHL and my dream is to be one of the best players in the NHL."
Some would suggest he actually did hit the lottery earlier this season when the Capitals signed him to a 13-year contract extension worth $124 million.
That might turn out to be a bargain.
"The drive he has to want to score every shift -- and he has that ability -- is what makes him so special," said Hawks television analyst Eddie Olczyk, who has covered Capitals games for NBC and coached against Ovechkin while behind the bench in Pittsburgh three years ago.
"He's not going to be refused and he's not going to be denied," Olczyk said. "Whether he's up by 5 or down by 5, he's going to play the same way and that's what separates him from a lot of players."
Savard sees some Mark Messier in Ovechkin.
"I don't know many players like him, maybe Messier, but even then he's quicker than Mess but probably the same grit," Savard said. "He's a pretty special player. It's pretty tough to keep him off the score sheet."
Savard plans to try by having defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on the ice whenever Ovechkin is out there.
"We just have to limit his chances and make sure we have tight coverage on him and be physical with him because he's going to be physical with you," Savard said. "We're going to have to do it as a group on the ice. If there's a choice to make between him taking the shot and somebody else, give it to somebody else."
That might be easier said than done because Ovechkin has yet to meet a shot he doesn't like. Going into Tuesday's game at Nashville, he led the NHL with 395 shots in 73 games -- 79 more than runnerup Henrik Zetterberg. He's also had more than 200 shot attempts miss the net.
"There aren't many times he turns down a shot," Olczyk said.
Ovechkin has a cannon of shot, playing the point on the power play, and he also goes to the net as hard and with as much purpose as any player in the league.
Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said last week he believes Ovechkin has the potential to challenge his record of 92 goals in a season.
"I think he can get 90 one day," Gretzky said. "The thing about scoring goals, it's one thing to score, but there are some guys that really enjoy scoring goals more than other guys. He's one of those guys that likes to score.
"He's just a bull. He's got a little bit of everything. He's got the release and the hands that (Mike) Bossy had, the quickness that (Jari) Kurri had and the toughness that Messier had. He's the whole package and he loves to score goals."
Tonight's faceoff
Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
The skinny: With nine games to play, the Hawks' playoff chances may be slim to none, but they vowed to play hard to the end. They will need all the battle they can muster tonight to contain dynamic Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL's leading goal scorer. Nikolai Khabibulin is expected to make his first start in goal for the Hawks since Feb. 20 when he went down with back spasms. The Hawks have lost four in a row at the United Center. The Caps had won three straight and seven of 10 heading into Tuesday game in Nashville.
Player to watch: Alexander Ovechkin. Who else?
Next game: Nashville Predators at the Sommet Center, 2 p.m. Saturday.
-- Tim Sassone