Russia’s Time to Shine at the Winter Classic


(courtesy of http://ovechkin.tumblr.com/)

There’s beating a dead horse and then there is the Alex Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby rivalry. The NHL’s two biggest stars, rivals on the ice yadda yadda yadda. The league received much criticism when it awarded this year’s Winter Classic (tonight at 8pm NBC) to Washington and Pittsburgh with the Crosby led Pens appearing in their second Classic in the event’s short four year existence.

While the league is doing what’s best to generate interest and revenue by pitting their poster boys against one another outdoors in front of what’s expected to be 67,000 fans it leaves many who have been fans before this new rivalry feeling slightly cheated.
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Sergei Miledin, January 1st 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Winter Classic

Geno and Ovie Take to Winter Classic Ice to Most Epic Music Ever/Semin Speaks Kind of

With the NHL’s marquee event outside(no pun intended) of the Stanley Cup just a day away, NHL.com followed both Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin onto the ice at Heinz Field ahead of the team’s first skate outdoors. Thanks to some fantastic editing both players walked onto the ice set to the same music as they made their way outside. Ovechkin would also speak to Alyonka Larionov about the importance of the game in both Russian and English.
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Sergei Miledin, December 31st 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Winter Classic

Boxing with the Stars Continues with Devils’ Kovalchuk


(courtesy of Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

There is much to be said about the current state of the New Jersey Devils as it appears the franchise is headed for their first season without a playoff berth in 13 years. With the firing of rookie coach John Maclean just days ago, the lack of defense in front of veteran Martin Brodeur and the team’s new poster boy for it’s misery, Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils have become the laughingstock of the NHL.

Fans and critics alike have pointed fingers to the contract that was given to Kovy over the summer which will make him a Devil for the rest of his career. The whole “with great power comes great responsibility” spiel has been bestowed on the sniper as his big money contract warrants him to carry the team on offense. While the team spirals out of control it seems most have put the blame on Kovalchuk while ignoring other ridiculous contracts the team has to honor(Brian Rolston anyone?)
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Sergei Miledin, December 27th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

From Russia with (Dropped) Glove, Ovi’s 2nd Career Fight

With his team already down 4-0 midway through the second period against the New York Rangers at MSG, Alexander Ovechkin threw a low hip-check at Dan Girardi before dropping the mits to square off against Brandon Dubinsky. It appeared Ovechkin wanted the fight more than his counterpart, the Capitals captain fared pretty well for someone who has been in just one official NHL scrap prior to Sunday’s game. AS usual he was booed every time he touched the puck at MSG as throughout the game, Ovechkin finished with 4 shots on goal and was a -1.
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Sergei Miledin, December 13th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Comrade of the Night-Alexander Semin


(courtesy of the AP)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Alexander Semin is playing so well this season.  The great 28, who is in a contract year, is having a career year having notched 29 points, so far.  Certainly playing for a well-deserved contract come 2011, Alexander Semin exploded on both Tampa goalies today at the Verizon Center routing the Lightning, 6-0.  It only took a total of 4 minutes and 29 seconds in the 2nd period Semin to notch his 3rd hat-trick of the season and 6th overall for his career.
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Shawn Reznik, November 27th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Comrade of the night

Alexei Kovalev Becomes 3rd Russian to Score 1,000 Points in NHL


(Photo courtesy of Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

First it was Sergei Fedorov, a month later it was Alexander Mogilny, and tonight, well over six years since a Russian-born player reached the 1,000 career point plateau, Ottawa’s Alexei Kovalev joins an elite club. Kovalev scored a power-play goal midway through the first period(at exactly 10:00) to give the Senators the early lead. With the goal, assisted by fellow countryman Sergei Gonchar, Kovalev became the 76th NHL player to have his career points go into quadruple digits.

Kovalev fired a slap shot past Jonathon Quick after Gonchar’s shot bounced off a LA Kings defender for his sixth goal of the year. The shot was powerful enough to break his stick. Kovalev would add an assist on the game winning goal by Jason Spezza to earn the first star of the game. He becomes the second Senators player to eclipse 1,000 points with captain Daniel Alfredsson doing so exactly a month ago.
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Sergei Miledin, November 23rd 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Comrade of the night-Alexander Semin


(courtesy of CBC.ca)

While Artem Anisimov was busy beating the Sabres in overtime and Sergei Bobrovsky was brushing aside 35 shots in Raleigh, Alexander Semin scored his second hat-trick of the season and racked up 5 points against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

All of Semin’s goals would come in the third period, his first tally would come on the powerplay when his wrist shot seemed to pop out off and over Dan Ellis’s shoulder for his 10th goal of the year. His second would come from almost the same spot this time on a slapshot that would ricochet off a defensemen and past Ellis.
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Sergei Miledin, November 12th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Comrade of the night

FRWG Sits Down with Semyon Varlamov(Updated w/video)

Yesterday, yours truly had the opportunity to talk with Semyon Varlamov of the Washington Capitals after practice before their home opener. While having brief encounters with various Russian NHL’ers in the past this was the first one-on-one i’ve gotten to do with an actual player. Despite speaking fluent Russian my entire life there were moments I stumbled through only to be assured by Varly that I was doing fine and not to worry. There is video of the interview but seeing how it’s in Russian I’m not sure if I will upload it. Here is the interview below, enjoy.
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Sergei Miledin, October 10th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Interviews

Caps Prospects Taking Different Routes to NHL

(Courtesy of Russian Machine Never Breaks)

In this past summer’s NHL entry draft, the Washington Capitals went Russian with their first two draft picks. Their first of choice of the day saw them select Evgeny Kuznetsov (1st round/26th overall) and then with their next pick they went with Stanislav Galiev (3rd round/86th overall).   The two are very different players and are taking different paths to get to the NHL to help prepare them to make the jump.

Evgeny Kuznetsov became the 7th Russian player the Capitals drafted in the first three rounds of the last seven NHL drafts and it’s easy to see why.  The left handed right winger fits into the same mold as his future Capital teammate, Alex Ovechkin.  He’s extremely gifted offensively and not afraid of physical play but can struggle when asked to play defense.  Kuznetsov has also represented Russia on the international stage as a 17 year old playing in U-18 and U-20 World Junior tournaments, including being named to the WJC all-star team in the U-18 tournament.
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David Sarch, September 22nd 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Down on the farm

$6.66(million) the Number of the Kovy Beast

It appears the summer/fall of Ilya Kovalchuk has FINALLY reached an end with his latest contract set to be approved by the NHL. Since he became a free agent back on July 1st, Kovy has been courted by the Los Angeles Kings, lured repeatedly by the KHL, had a press conference, became a free agent again, and has had three contracts submitted on his behalf to the league with only the last one finally being good enough.
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Sergei Miledin, September 3rd 2010 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Around the League
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