The reason Ovechkin was benched for 14 mins

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

According to the washington times he was staying out on his shifts too long, and ignoring his defensive responsibilities. He hadn't got a goal in 5 games, and was trying to play through it, so was staying out longer than he should have.

So Hugs benched him for the last 4 minutes of the 2nd, and first 11 of the third.

Just in case anyone was interested in the local stories on him

Here is a link to the story

http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/2006...14903-8101r.htm

Dave fay is about the only decent reporter with regards to hockey in this area, everyone else just reports on it to wait in line until they can start reporting on the redskins

[mack 44]

Should have done what Keenan did to Kovalev and just made him stay out there.

[GeeZa32 0]

According to the washington times he was staying out on his shifts too long, and ignoring his defensive responsibilities. He hadn't got a goal in 5 games, and was trying to play through it, so was staying out longer than he should have.

So Hugs benched him for the last 4 minutes of the 2nd, and first 11 of the third.

Just in case anyone was interested in the local stories on him

Here is a link to the story

http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/2006...14903-8101r.htm

Dave fay is about the only decent reporter with regards to hockey in this area, everyone else just reports on it to wait in line until they can start reporting on the redskins

He had a goal two games earlier...

He did have a five game stretch without a goal in Febuary though...

[asdfa 0]

this shows that ovechkin really does have maturity and is an all round player, not just a flashy star considering he took the benching so well. no temper tantrums, yelling, badmouthing the coach or even saying anything about it

[killthepoodle 0]

this shows that ovechkin really does have maturity and is an all round player, not just a flashy star considering he took the benching so well. no temper tantrums, yelling, badmouthing the coach or even saying anything about it

To play the Devils Advocate......

It could also be taken that he needs to work on his maturity some by doing what his coaches tell him without exception and role playing when necessary.

Just presenting the other side. I agree it takes more poise as a young player to take criticism and public disciplining with a cool head.

[asdfa 0]

yea i totally agree with that. it's probably tough for him to sit knowing that he's about 60% of the reason the caps win lol. i hate to flog a dead horse but i wonder what crosby would have done in a situation like htat

[Eazy_b97 1]

So now the guy gets praise for not freaking out after taking long shifts and floating?

[cabreezy 0]

So now the guy gets praise for not freaking out after taking long shifts and floating?

what he said

[Edge 0]

i agree with all of the above. Very un-ovechkinlike to not be a 2 way player and help out on D, and I am disappointed, but it is a good thing that he wasn't angry at his coaches for it.

[sdh 0]

The stuff you mention doesn't sound that bad, but from what I read he ignored calls to come off the ice. I don't think that shows maturity at all and sort of sends a message that he doesn't respect the authority of the coaching staff or trust the rest of his team to carry the weight.

I'm sure there is a lot more to the story that we'll never know that might explain his actions or at least make the sound less prima donna.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=159636&hubname=nhl

[MissConduct 1]

it's too bad he could have tied the game or won it for them in 14 minutes :D

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

In the post game interview he didn't sound happy, he said the right things like when they asked if he was upset he said "no, its coachs decision, I do what coach tell me"

Then asked why he was benched he said "you have ask coach" and didn't look happy.

He is balls out all the time, and he has taken long shift, if you look at his ice time, he was still aroun 19/20 mins, and benched for 14.

There was a good follow up in the times the next day, I will look for it and post it

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Found it..

Link to story

Multiple league sources speaking on the condition of anonymity said the rookie had been warned several times about paying more attention to defense in his own zone and keeping his shifts within limits laid down by the coaching staff unless specifically directed to do otherwise.

    The warnings fell on deaf ears, sources said, and the decision was made to press the matter and do it in a way in which it would make an impact on the 20-year-old.

    "This is his first year in the NHL and he has to learn that there are rules that have to be followed," one source said

Monday night, sources said, Ovechkin was warned again about ignoring defensive responsibilities as well as extending shifts. He had been going through a mini-slump -- one goal in five games before Monday -- and apparently was trying to play through it

Sorry, my original post said none in 5

But two incidents Monday brought the matter to a head. Eleven minutes into the middle period, with the Caps trying to kill a penalty, Ovechkin left the defensive zone and stood at the red line, apparently waiting for a breakaway pass instead of helping his teammates, creating through his absence a 5-on-3 disadvantage. Then, shortly thereafter, sources said, he ignored an order to come off the ice on a power play and stayed out instead of changing up

All players, whether they're on the first or fourth lines, expect everybody to follow basic team rules; not to do so leads to anarchy," one former coach said. "It doesn't matter who you are -- defense is everybody's job

There is more in the link, but this is the gist of it really

Also, he had 27 minutes last night, so seems he is back in good graces, I just want to see him level frodo tonight.

I do not like that little rat

[Eazy_b97 1]

Who is the Frodo you don't like? Welly's nickname is Frodo as well.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Who is the Frodo you don't like? Welly's nickname is Frodo as well.

Martin St. Louis, tiny little hobbit, caps are at the lightning tonight

[hockechamp14 0]

Ovechkin may not have been happy about sitting, but the fact is that he had the toughness and frame of mind to pop one at the end, which I think says more about who he is than staying out too long does

[Chadd 916]

Two for AO tonight and one disallowed that could have gone either way.

[Chadd 916]

damn, 13 shots on goal?

I am a bit confused about something though. Why has his ice time gone up so much the past two games after being somewhat benched 3 games ago? Wouldn't the coach ease him in and try to linger the lesson taught? Or is he showing that benefits are awarded when you listen? I mean, even before OT, I think he was at 25+ tonight. And last game he had 27 mins

He's the most skilled guy on his team and they can't win without him. After you bench a guy, you then have to reward him if he responds. He's keeping his shifts shorter and playing a little more defense so the coach is rewarding him with more ice time.

[Edge 0]

he played terrific tonight. 2 great goals, and many good shots on net. He had a couple hard hits and was good on defense too, prevented some scoring chances. I would have called that one a goal because he was stopping...it wasn't really a kicking motion at all. Even without that dissallowed goal, the reffing was pretty bad this game.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I love going to games, I usually sit in the 428/413 section, but a couple of times this year we got the lower level seats 113 once and 115.

Seeing the game from that perspective is simply amazing.

I was blown away by seeing Semin up close in the last season, but this year ovechkin at full speed is, for want of a better word, astonishing.

With regard to the ice time, there was a pretty interesting piece in the boston globe and mail about it, and the fact that he responded so well immediately sends a good sign to the coach and the team, so he was rewarded immediately .

My next game in person will be the canes game on april 7th. This is the 5th game against the canes in 13 days, so it should be an absolute cracker. 4 previous games in less than two weeks should build up some nastiness.

Speaking of nastiness, anyone else laugh at pettinger and vinny le cav "fighting" last night. I put fighting in quotation marks because it was really more like hugging or dancing.

Funny.