Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is looking to pass Brett Hull’s 741 goals on the all-time goal-scoring list tonight vs. the Detroit Red Wings (7:30 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/NBC Sports Washington/97.1 FM). This morning, Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill discussed the challenges of defending one of the league’s best all-time goal-scorers, as noted by MLive’s Ansar Khan:
“It’s been cool to watch him play for the number of years I’ve been on an NHL bench,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I remember when I was an assistant my first year in the NHL, I could not believe how big he was. He’s way bigger when you see him on the ice at ice level than you realize on TV. He’s a huge, huge, strong person. He still plays with the same passion that he did back then, and that’s probably now 10-11 years ago, and probably the same passion that he did when he came into the league.
“But yet he’s gotten better over time without a doubt. He can shoot the puck from anywhere and it’s a scoring chance. You can be on him, and he’ll find a way to get it off. They’re different, him and (Edmonton’s) Connor McDavid. Connor McDavid, you have to be aware of his speed. You have to really start defending him in the O-zone. Where I think with Alex, it’s more once you enter your own zone you have to know where he’s at on the ice all of the time. You can’t give him a millisecond or otherwise he’s getting his shot off and every shot has a chance to go in.”
Washington is missing three key forwards due to injuries – Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie and former Red Wing Anthony Mantha, who last week underwent shoulder surgery.
It is one of the reasons the Capitals’ typically strong power play has been average at best so far (8 for 46, 18.6 percent). The Red Wings were shorthanded only twice against Edmonton’s league-leading power play on Tuesday, killing both penalties.
Continued (with news on Troy Stecher’s injury)
