I only know about the result because I accidentally stumbled upon a story image of it late last night on line; when you’re a hockey blogger and Canada loses at anything in hockey, you fairly can’t avoid its reporting. Anyway, I haven’t read a single file related to the Worlds this spring. It interests me none.

This is a Worlds-free site this spring. I don’t care a lick about them. I don’t even know why they’re being contested in this Olympics year. If your team wins a gold medal at the Olympics, isn’t it judged to be the best in the world, having beaten the world’s best athletes? So what in the world is the IIHF doing having another international competition just weeks after we got through one of the best ever in Vancouver? (Making money, I know.)

Yes, I’m seriously cranky still from the sudden Capitals defeat. I’ve battered golf balls the past three weeks, and it hasn’t helped my psyche much. (I am grooving a great swing, however.) I am interested greatly in the Chicago-San Jose series. Two terrifically talented clubs there, and the Hawks are defying forecasts and getting great netminding. But once those games are over I go back to being pissed off pretty fast. Meanwhile, back East, we’re profaning Lord Stanley’s Cup allowing one of Philly or Montreal to compete for it in another week or so. That’s adding to my crankiness.

We in HockeyWashington may look back on this spring years hence and only then realize how enormous an opportunity was wasted by our guys in red. I’m not buying into the Philly love story this spring. Look at who they’ve had to play to get where they are. They weren’t that good with Jeff Carter in the lineup; they’re not better without him. And they’re on like their 40th goalie on the season. Sickening. I’m nauseous thinking about it.

It was life-altering fun three springs back going to Moscow on Mr. Leonsis’ dime and covering the IIHF Worlds and the Caps participating in it then. When your NHL team is young and inexperienced and rebuilding, such competition is good experience. But when you’re a 120-point NHL club and a bevy of your players are competing in the Worlds, virtually from the onset of the tourney, it’s not a good thing at all. No good is coming from core Capitals’ players skating in their second international tournament of 2010.

What am I supposed to do if our Russians win another game over there and have shiny medals placed around their necks, pump my fist in the air while a Flyers’ fan looks over at me and laughs?

I really don’t care how well Ovi, Semin, and Semyon played against Canada yesterday or in any of the other IIHF games. I couldn’t care less. No manner of feat over there by any of them alters one iota the sting we’re still feeling in Washington at a hockey season ended way too prematurely. A part of me wishes Ovi had followed Sid’s lead when it came to these Worlds games and said, in effect, You know what, I’ve done my part for my country this year already, I’ve put my body through upwards of 100 elite-level games this season, I’m heading off home to heal up and work even harder this offseason to do everything I can to assure there’s no repeat of late April 2010.

I’d respect that.

* * * * *

Speaking of Mr. Leonsis, I’ll find out how cranky he is these days at noon today, when he appears at the National Press Club as its lunchtime newsmaker keynote. Those keynotes field a lot of questions from the diners in the room, and I plan on submitting one or two. I’d be delighted to read any and all questions you’d ask of him if you leave them here as comments, and add the best ones among my submissions. We’ll also be tweeting the standout observations he offers at the lunch.

* * * * *

Here’s an effective way to combat the grumps — a John Walton call of yet another Bears’ playoff triumph in overtime, from last night’s game 5 in Manchester:

Bouchard the Hero of game 5

Hershey has matched an American League record this postseason with six wins in extra time. The Bears head home to try and wrap up the American League Eastern conference finals Saturday night in game 6, and earn their fourth Calder Cup finals appearance in the last five years. I’ll make that trip north, to try and further work out the grumps.

• A season-altering triumph? It sure had that feeling in the immediate aftermath of a cardiac comeback against the ‘Canes. The Caps were three minutes shy of starting off an important homestand with a frustrating loss to their fiercest and most hated Southeast foe. Then, in keeping with his storybook season, Alexander Semin took a struggling team on his back and willed them to triumph with his magic wrists.  
• It was a World Championships reunion night at Verizon Center. Back in May, the Russian entry in the IIHF World Championships skated a top forward line comprised of Alexander Ovechkin, Sergei Fedorov, and Alexander Semin. They acquitted themselves rather well in the sense that all three finished in the top 5 in tournament scoring: Semin with 13 points, Ovechkin and Fedorov with 12, in 9 games. All three skated in double-digit plus-minus for the tourney, and Ovechkin and Fedorov assisted on Ilya Kovalchuk’s gold medal winning overtime goal against Canada. Caps’ fans following the tourney on line understandably wondered: would the dominant line in one of hockey’s most prestigious events be reconstituted on the Caps in 2008-09? The answer on Thursday night at Verizon Center finally arrived — yes! And before Fedorov departed the game in the third period with a “lower body” injury, there was ample reason for Caps’ fans to wish that the line remain intact the remainder of the season. 
• It really ought to be the best line in hockey. Alluding to the trio’s chemistry, Mike Green in the post-game locker room noted, “They’re best of buds.”  
• In light of the way the Hurricanes’ ’07-’08 season ended last spring, with that stunning home ice loss to Florida opening the door for the Capitals to steal the Southeast title and the division’s lone postseason entry with their 82nd game, you could convincingly suggest that last night was Carolina’s biggest game of the young season. The visitors played a simple, largely disciplined game, and they got high-quality goaltending from elite talent Cam Ward. What the ‘Canes failed to do was win faceoffs (winning just 36 percent of the game’s draws), and they certainly failed to contain Alexander Semin when it counted. 
• A confession: I arrived at the rink somewhat soured on this team’s long-term prospects, and Thursday night’s high drama late masks for another day still significant concerns. The Caps at times Thursday again got “too cute” with their offensive zone attacks, and the home crowd let them know it — particularly in the third period. The development of a reliable “lunchpale line,” a trio of strong and gritty willing to get dirty in front of the net and in corners shift after shift, would I think go a long way to reorienting this team’s identity and alleviating its startling inconsistency. Who would skate on such a line? Chris Clark for sure. Brooks Laich is another candidate. If he could somehow make a position switch, I’d like to see what Eric Fehr could do on such a line.
• Remember Ovi’s monster night (4 goals) against front-running Montreal at Verizon Center way back in January? Don’t you get the feeling that his countryman Semin, in this ‘I’ve arrived’ autumn he’s authoring, is going to have one of those himself? Or maybe three of them?
• Games like Thursday’s have meaning — even season-defining meaning ocassionally. Fully 30 minutes after the game I walked past ‘Canes’ coach Peter Laviolette in the hall outside the visitors’ room. His team was already on its bus. The coach moved slowly, his shoulders slumped, his expression one of thorough, lasting dejection. I’ve seen a lot of disappointed coaches in that hall the past couple of seasons, but none looking quite as agony-ridden as Laviolette. 
• Washington is a town renowned for Redskin quarterback controversies. This autumn, the Capitals have a goaltending one.          

IIHF game summary:

“If this game isn’t evidence enough to everyone in Canada of the calibre of play possible in the World Championship, nothing is or ever will be. Played at breathtaking speed with heart-pounding drama, this would surely rank in the top 10 of the IIHF’s top 100 if the list were released next week instead of yesterday.”

TSN tournament photo gallery
‘Russian rhapsody,’ by Roy MacGregor, Toronto Globe and Mail
‘No Canada! Collapse GIve Russia Gold,’ The National Post
‘Can’t Bear It,’ by Kevin Crush, Edmonton Sun
Champions! Russia Today (video)

With a single shot, Ilya Kovalchuk silenced the home crowd and brought an end to the Russian national team’s 15-year championship drought. Russia took the gold over Canada today in a wild 5-4 OT victory.
The Washington Capitals’ Russian contingent were by far the most dominant scorers on the team, totaling 37 points in just 9 games:

• Ovechkin: 6G, 6A, +11
• Semin: 6G, 7A, +11
• Fedorov: 5G, 7A, +10

Alexander Semin practically lived on the ice, leading the team with 164:52 played in the tournament (followed by Fedorov’s 157:34). Ovechkin, playing in his fifth World Championship, finished tied for second-most goals in the tournament, as did Alex Semin — eclipsed only by Dany Heatley’s record-setting 12-goal performance.
Congratulations to Alex, Alex, and Sergei on a hard-fought victory, and to both teams for wrapping up the World Championships in fine fashion.

Five Washington Capitals will be sporting World Championship Medals at the end of the day. At 1 p.m. today, Russia and the Capitals line of Ovechkin, Fedorov, and Semin face defenseman Mike Green and company from Canada. Both teams are undefeated in the tournament with eight wins. At least with the first loss comes silver.
Sami Lepisto already has his medal as Finland beat Nicklas Backstrom and Sweden for the Bronze medal in yesterday’s game.
You can watch the Gold Medal game on WCSN.com.

Does this humiliate Team Russia? Krueger thinks that it is easier to beat [the Russians] than the Czechs or the Swedes?
“I don’t think so. However, we need to be on guard.”
Is Team Russia playing the optimal game, or there are still problems approaching the playoffs?
“I wouldn’t call it a problem. But team chemistry is always built in difficult games. We had those in Quebec. There are only technical issues left to fix. For example, to play shorter shifts but more intense. Our potential is hidden there.”
Is Team Russia different with or without Morozov?
“I wouldn’t put the question this way. But it is obvious that Alexei is not only the captain of the team, but is also a good player on his line. I think that his line partners (Kovalchuk and Zinoviev) don’t feel completely comfortable without Morozov.”
Why did Maxim Sushinsky took over the captaincy and not you?
“For me it was an obvious decision. Sushinsky knows everyone on the team better. Moreover, assistant captain and captain are almost the same.”
Whose choice was it?
“Right before the game against Team Switzerland our coaches made the announcement.”
Did they ask for your opinion?
“No. But was it necessary?”
Weren’t you asked anything right before the World Championships? Were you just offered to become assistant captain?
“No one offered it, but it was announced at a team meeting who the assistants would be. It was very clear and there were no complaints.”
You scored a wonderful goal against the Swiss that also became the game winner. Was it impromptu?
“I had a few options of how to continue the attack. I was looking for Sasha Semin near the goal. I could have also shot against goalies’ pads for Semin to score on the rebound. But a Swiss player charged towards me. I put on the breaks, beat him with a trick move and shot towards the goal. It turned out that the puck went in.”
Let’s talk once again about the third period. From the stands it looked as if there was a little panic in our ranks when Team Switzerland started going forward.
“Panic is a strong word. There was a misunderstanding within the team; we didn’t have a common thought. And it is understandable. A lot of NHL players are used to mostly playing three lines and not four. The same goes for defensemen playing in three pairs. Everyone is constantly involved. I personally spoke to some NHL defensemen. I ask them: “How are you feeling? It seemed like we’re doing everything a little slow.” They reply: “We spend a lot of time sitting on the bench, we get ‘cold.’ That’s why it is difficult for us.” That’s why the game changed. It concerns our forwards too, who took longer shifts in the third period. Wanting to do too much was our mistake.”
Are Bykov and Zakharlin [Russian coaches] aware of the problem? Do they understand it?
“I think so. Although, this question is not for me to answer.”
The maybe you should approach the coaches? Tell them what you are telling us.

“Why should I give any advice?”

Because you are the most experienced player on the team.
“I understand?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ If I am asked, I will give my opinion. But I am not going to bug the coaches trying to teach them hockey. It would be wrong.”
And how are you getting along with your teammates from Washington? Semin, Ovechkin and Fedorov got the result in the game against Sweden. And even today you got us this victory.
“I wouldn’t say that we sit down together and spend the entire day create technical drawings of how we are going to play. But we have our routines. We have kept the way we played the game in Washington that worked so well through thick and thin. But we are paying attention to other teams’ specifics. For example, in the game against Sweden we wouldn’t simply drop passes. If wingers get the puck at the far side, they will look around whom to pass to, and won’t simply dump the puck in to pressure the opponent. The Swedes are very skilled players, and it won’t work with them. I wouldn’t say that our line is ticking perfectly like a watch. We still have some rough around the edges. But I won’t be tired of saying this: it is important not to make mistakes on both blue lines. It will be the main point of the entire playoffs.”
What specifics of the way Switzerland plays are you going to discuss with Ovechkin and Semin?
“I will reiterate that I am not the only one taking the initiative. Both Sashas, one and the other, can come up to me. We will start talking about tactics in the hotel, in the locker room, on the bus. Anywhere. We don’t go crazy, of course. But we do have this constant dialogue going. And we will certainly discuss the way we’ll play against the Swiss.”
What do you think about the episode in the game against Sweden when Alexei Morozov got injured?
“Murray did not have to hit him so hard. Because they guy didn’t have the puck. The referees realized that the Swedish defenseman played dirty. Murray got in trouble; that is it.”
Would anyone try to fight him in the NHL [after a similar episode]?
“Absolutely. But the most upsetting thing is that Murray doesn’t play this way in the NHL.”
If you were Ilya Kovalchuk would you also go after the Swede?
“I think I would drop by gloves.”
Even that?
“Yes, although I understand that this is against the [IIHF] rules. On the other hand, Kovalchuk still got a game penalty.” [Kovalchuk did not drop the gloves.]
But he didn’t get a game misconduct penalty and played the next day against Switzerland.
“Damn, I missed this small detail. Although the refs, to be honest, realized the situation and kicked Murray out.”
We cannot imagine Fedorov fighting. When was the last time you dropped your gloves?
“It was a long time ago. But players like Murray need to be put in their place.”
Team Russia hasn’t won the World Championships since 1993. And you are the expert of the playoffs, winning three Stanley Cups. Your advice: what should we beware of in the upcoming games?
“I can’t describe it in one word,” — Fedorov signed. “Let’s not make mistakes at the blue lines. Let’s not create stupid turnovers. Let’s start with that. It is important to move the puck forward. Team speed is important. All these little things I told you about. And there must be a strict discipline. Discipline always beats class.”
Good goaltending. Converting on power plays. Taking less penalties.
“You are saying all the right things. Now we just have to transform words into action.