After single-handedly dominating the Caps on Tuesday night, Alexei Kovalev had insinuated that his strong performance had been fueled by all the questions from the media about how the Habs would manage to contain Alexander Ovechkin. Suffice to say #8's retort was swift and resounding.
As a matter of fact, this was a statement game not only for Ovechkin but for Russian hockey as a whole. Anyone who thinks the Red Army is dead would be advised to go back and watch the war the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals waged on each other tonight. Back and forth action, last minute heroics, and more hits than you could shake a stick at. The best of it signed CCCP.
At its best, soviet hockey was known for fearless speed and prodigious skill. Alexander Ovechkin, Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, Viktor Kozlov, and Andrei Markov displayed all that and then some, putting on a show few of the 14,930 in attendance will soon forget. The quintet combined for 11 points with Ovechkin's four goals and an assist leading the pack. Oh, and he was also a +4, took 6 shots, had five hits, and added a takeaway. If you need him.
