Alex Ovechkin has 3 goals in two games and has helped the Washington Capitals to a undefeated 2-0 start. Tonight, he'll bring those golden laces to the Wachovia Center for the Flyers home opener. Ay Oh has looked good so far... and he has some hockey pundits predicting 50 goals in 50 games. While I find that feat highly unlikely, he WILL do his share of damage this year. So what do the Flyers do to stop number 8 from lighting them up? Well, he's such a dynamic and talented player... you don't stop him, you just try to contain him. Logic would say that you match up Chris Pronger, who has played stellar hockey in the first two Flyers' victories, against Ovechkin every time he hits the ice. And last night on the Vs. intermission report, local hero Keith Jones proposed "You're going to see a lot of Pronger out there against Ovechkin." So why do I completely disagree?
While I do think you'll see Pronger and Ovechkin on the ice quite enough tonight due to the latter's penchant for taking extended shifts, I believe the more important matchup will be with Kimmo Timonen. He was there for that grueling opening round playoff series two years ago. He's been there for the more recent favorable outcomes in those exciting Flyers/Caps games. And although he's never "shut out" Ovechkin, Timonen has quietly contained the Caps star. Ovechkin loves to play physical and seems to respond well to physical attention from opposing defenders. Timonen's approach is more strategic. When Ovechkin receives the puck without any speed, Kimmo plays up on him and forces him to the outside. If number 8 gets the puck with a full head of steam, Timonen plays off him and uses angles to deflect or block shots.
The Caps opened the season with a convincing victory against those tough Bruins, who just so happen to ice the NHL's largest defenseman in Zdeno Chara. Ovechkin has had some success against Chara, including his first two goals of this season the other night. Perhaps matching brute strength with brute strength is a mistake the NHL keeps making when it comes to Ovechkin. I look for John Stevens to use the late change before faceoffs to get Timonen and Coburn out on the ice. Word has that he's also had Timonen switch sides with Cobie to get the diminutive stud d-man between Ovechkin and the net.
Who do you want to see out there tonight against Ovechkin...?
Original Story:
http://www.the700level.com/2009/10/de...
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October 06, 2009
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