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11/5 Entire Semin Interview!...More…

11/3 The Dzagoev Dialectic...More…

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9/16 Simeon Varlamov in America...More…

9/5 Morozov and the KHL...More…

9/3 OV behind bars?...More…

8/17 OV on Russian Game show...More…

8/12 OV in Beijing...More…

8/4 OV is in even better shape than last year...More…

7/28 Jagr and OV talk...More…

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6-3 OV the Superman...More…

5-27 Don Cherry loves OV...More…

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10 April 2008-The Playoffs are just around the corner More…

10 November 2008

Slava Malamud

Washington

Alexander Ovechkin: "Fans Are Already Trading Me"

There is no end to Ovechkin's bad luck! In the Rangers game, he was credited with a deflection for the first goal, but after video review it was taken away. However, the fifth-ranked goal scorer on the team did not appear to be too awfully worried after the game. He explained that it was fruitless to get worried.

Nine games now without a goal. This has to start weighing heavy on your mind.

"The pressure was on during the first 2-3 games. Right now it has subsided. I'm actually happy that this is happening now, at the beginning of the season. I know that you can't just focus on the fact that the puck isn't going into the net, otherwise you just turn into a robot, going through the same motions."

It's usually the other way around-- the longer the bad luck continues, the more you think about when it will ever end.

"All that will do is hold you back, so I try not to think at all about bad luck. I just go out on the ice and I keep on plowing. What else can I do?"

It probably won't be very long before your loyal fans start asking you questions..

"They already are! I thought it was funny, by the way, to read a couple of different things on the internet. On the Capitals message forums, somebody wrote that he had traded me off his fantasy team. There's nothing wrong with that, I actually like it. I even love it when the fans start discussing when they are upset about something. They are fans and you can understand them."

Can you give them any reassurance somehow?

"I think that they are most of all interested in our team winning."

Did your grandfather's illness have any affect on your game?

"Not right now. I am in good shape and playing normally. Since my return from Russia I try to forget everything when I go out on the ice."

And before that?

"Before that it was difficult, of course. I did affect me... I knew for a while that he was in the hospital and I was told before the game in Calgary that his situation was deteriorating. All during that game all I could think about was hoping that nothing bad happened. I really wanted to see him. The next day after our return to Washington I called our GM and asked if I could be released."

Were you affected in any way by the news from the Russian internet about his death?

"You can't pay any attention to idiots. I heard about all of this ten minutes after I left my grandfather's bedside in the hospital. All of a sudden people start calling me and expressing their condolences...well, you can understand."

How is he doing now?

"He is a tiny bit better, but it's still a difficult situation."

Since your return you are playing at the same speed as last year, and making a lot of hard hits just like before, and are leading the league in shots. So what is not happening?

"I think it is just a matter of time. If you look at these last two games you can see that I had my chances. Once I missed an open net and another one hit the pipe. Tonight Sema gave me a great diagonal pass and I thought it was already in the net, but it got stuck between the goalie's pads."

Tell us what you were thinking at that moment.

"I had raised my arms because I thought the puck was in the net. But then I started laughing because I looked so ridiculous."

Is there any special reason you are growing a beard?

"I'm going to shave it off now. I just got my hair cut, so now it is time to get shaved."

In the Carolina game you played on the Russian line with Fedorov and Semin. Would you like to see that continue?

"That unit was awesome. It's too bad that Fedorov was injured, but Backstrom and I made two goals. As far as continuing, that is up to the coach."

Click on icon above for original story in Russian at www.sport-express.ru