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11/11 Rest of Semin Interview...More…
11/9 Boudreau on OV's Slump...More…
11/9 OV Interview after Rangers Game...More…
11/5 Entire Semin Interview!...More…
11/3 The Dzagoev Dialectic...More…
10/31 Fedorov Interview...More…
10/30 Semin and Kozlov...More…
10/20 Yet Another OV Q&A...More…
10/20 Yet Another Semin Q&A...More…
10/17 Short OV Interview...More…
10/17 Feds Interview...More…
10/14 Another Semin Interview...More…
9/18 Semin Interview...More…
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…
7/27 Kapitanov--OV doesn't even take vitamins...More…
7/25 OV can't get to his seat...More…
7/22 OV parties in Moscow...More…
7/23 OV Going to Beijing...More…
6-3 OV the Superman...More…
5-27 Don Cherry loves OV...More…
5-30 OV interview in Pittsburgh..More…
5-13 Feds Interview...More…
5-12 OV Interview...More…
Odious Don Koharski killed us More…
Blog:
10 April 2008-The Playoffs are just around the corner More…
29 April 2008
Kimmo Timmonen: Ovechkin is a great player
Damir Khairetdinov
Montreal
After the second game in the Montreal-Philadelphia series, (in which the home team was able to even out the series at 1-1), a large group of reporters (including local ones) gathered in the locker room. Since it was expected that press access to the players would be tightened up, many started to grumble that the NHL bureaucrats apparently couldn't arrange anything in a humane manner.
When, after fifteen minutes, the journalists were allowed into a rather gloomy looking guest room, the first thing they were struck by was the smell of freshly baked pizzas. There in the middle of the room was a large piping hot pizza, which the players and coaches were tearing into. They didn't refuse to be regaled by either victuals or reporters.
It wasn't the pizza that your correspondent was interested in, however, --it was the leading Flyers defender Kimmo Timonen, who had played one-on-one against Alexander Ovechkin in several games against Washington and who was playing flawlessly in this second meeting of the series against Montreal. "He is getting some first aid right now"- replied the press attaché to my inquiry about an interview with the Finn. Apparently Timonen took it hard from Canadian Tom Kostopoulos. In one encounter the 33 year old defender was hit by the winger and gave him a hard hit to the head.
While everyone was waiting for Kimmo, an absolutely exhausted Daniel Brier- enemy No.1 of Montreal fans- was sitting and answering questions from reporters who decided not to torture him. Painful minutes of waiting were fully rewarded. Kimmo, upon seeing your correspondent, immediately presented himself, first held out his hand for a handshake and with a smile on his face announced his readiness to answer a few questions for the readers of Sport Express.
OV IS UNSTOPPABLE
- Kimmo, since you are giving an interview to the Russian press, I can't pass up the chance to ask you a few questions about the recent series against the Capitals. You personally played against the best current forward in the NHL, Alexander Ovechkin. How were you able to neutralize him?
- I wouldn't say that we were totally able to exclude OV from the game, since he scored 9 points. We were able to stop him intermittently. Without a doubt he is a great player and brings a huge advantage to his team. He will be a Player with a capital P for many years to come.
- In your opinion should Alexander win the MVP award?
-Without a doubt.
-What sets Alexander apart from other NHL attackers?
-He has everything that a classic forward needs. He is in great physical shape, he has excellent speed, he doesn't need a lot of room to make a shot, and on top of that he is a great shot. In fact, just the fact that he hammered in 65 goals in the regular season shows that he is the best.
FEDOROV THE GREAT
-And what can you say about Ovechkin's line partner, Sergei Fedorov? He is already a team veteran at 38 years old..
-It is immediately apparent that he has a ton of experience. Despite his age, he differentiates himself with his excellent skating, and he reads the game wonderfully. Fedorov is still in the NHL because he is a great player.
- In contrast to the Capitals series, you personally haven't played against the Canadian's leader Aleksei Kovalev. Mike Richards is playing this part. Why is that?
-Richard doesn't always play against him. Just like in the case with Ovechkin, we have to intermittently play against Kovalev, to take away his free space. If we give him just a little slack, he'll immediately make a great pass to his partners.
FAVORITES- RUSSIA AND CANADA
-This is now the second game of the series you have played in Montreal. What do you think of the atmosphere in the capital of Canadian hockey?
-Well, this is a city that truly lives and breathes hockey. When you come out on the ice, you are immediately under the most powerful pressure of all twenty-one thousand fans shouting at the top of their lungs. Without a doubt playing here is very difficult. At the same time, we have not submitted to the pressure of the fans, as we are fully concentrating on our game.
-The Flyer's fans are also well known for their boisterous behavior...
-Oh yes, our fans are no worse than Montreal's. On Monday the Canadian players felt that for themselves. Our fans will support us strongly, I can guarantee you that.
-In a week the World Championship of hockey begins. Who are your favorites?
-To tell the truth, I can judge the teams only through what I read in the papers. My first choice for favorite is Canada. As far as the Russian team, it is also quite strong. I think that these two teams have the best chances of making it to the finals.
