The Drought Begins!

So Ovie's season is over! Ended with the Canadiens beating the Caps in the 7th game of the 1st round. To rub salt in the wound, Russia lost to Czech Republic in the final game of the World Hockey championships. Now it's party and regrouping time for Ovie, lets hope he comes back better and stronger next season.

So the long hockey drought has begun. I cant say I am a fan of any of the teams going into the finals. Blackhawks are "meh", I dont hate the Flyers, and Halak, Canadiens goalie, has won my heart with his Slavic good looks and awesome goaltending. It's anybody's game really.

But seriously, I really miss going to Kings games. I miss the vibe, I miss the fans. I miss the anticipation that builds a couple of hours before the game, the feeling of relief when I hit the freeway and know I am on my way. I miss my $10 parking lot and anxiously waiting outside the doors to be let in or having dinner and a drink at LA Live. The pre-game skate with Matt's Greene's flowing blond locks blowing as he "ice dances" to the Killers "Things that I have Done". I miss the fights, Baily dressing up like the fat opera lady when ever we are crushing a team, the guy 4 rows in front of me yelling, the sound of "I Love LA" whenever we score a goal. I miss the joy of a win and sharing the disappointment of a loss.

On the Caps end of it, I miss daily FB messages from my east coast friends, I miss those game texts from Jean telling me what went on during the games I dont get. I miss watching a Caps game at 4pm and a Kings game at 7:30pm. I miss seeing Ovie squirt himself with a water bottle.

Well, I wont disappear have a post brewing about women and hockey..See ya soon!

I'm back!

It's been a while, I have zero clue if anyone really reads this or not, there are so many great "Oviecentric" blogs out there, that make mine pale in comparison!! It's seems that my quest to "chase Ovie" has just been derailed as his hopes for the Olympic gold. I will continue to post here and there, it might be a while, but I am hoping to start fresh next season! I am also turning this into a hockey centric blog too!

The Kings hung in there for the first round of the playoffs and made it six games in. They played their heart and souls out, but they just wore themselves out in the end. Attending an NHL playoff game was an experience I will never forget!!! The energy was amazing and the vibe indescribable! My heart raced all day and I was nervous with anticipation, but being there was just incredible!!! Too bad I only got to experience twice, but next season I am hoping it will be more. I am also hoping to attend more meet and greets as well. It's always a pleasure to interact with all the players.

This summer takes me on a Kings Fan cruise which no doubt will be a good time! Updates to follow!

In the mean time, Go Ovie, Go Caps!!! Game 7 tonight vs. the Canadiens!

It's been a while....

Photo courtesy of ESPN

So, yeah, it's been a while since I have posted, Christmas and work stuff going on.

Ovie has been hot and cold, but the last game was a hot one indeed! He scored 2 goals and one assist against the Edmonton Oilers. Impressive!

"Oviemania" hit Canada hard. In Russia the press loves him, but they people on the street leave him alone for the most part. In America, especially outside of DC, only people who are familiar with hockey know who he is. Those that do know him, pretty much leave him alone. Canada, on the other hand, he is like the Beatles were back in there hey day.

He made the cover of Hockey News this week, have to get that issue. Plus he was featured in the Russian version of Tatler magazine...Great beefcake shot! He is definitely not shy and proud of his body!

As of today he is back in the top five scoring list, just behind Sidney Crosby..speaking of....

I am not a huge fan of "Sid the Kid", he comes off as snotty to me. But my friends HP and Nie had the pleasure of meeting him last week and said he was kind and gracious as can be! Imagine that? A Stanley Cup winner chatting with fans! Earn one point in my book! They also went to the Caps practice center where Ovie made a quick exit...hmmmmmmm! I hope that all that attention he got in Canada did not go to his head! Or maybe he was all burned out from all the attention he was receiving!

Another thing that is bugging me is that he did an autograph session in Vancouver where people had to buy items all over $100 to get a signature. I am also seeing that he is doing a signing in DC on 01/16 where there is also a charge for his autograph. Now, I understand that there might be a fee to ward off collectors making money off his signature, but what about the kid that wants his signature (reports say he never turns down kids)? Or someone just wants it for their collection! Hmmmmm! I guess in this economy it's all business for these stores. I feel that some of the fans are being priced out. Personally, I wouldnt pay any amount of money for an autograph. I dont even think I would stand in line for an appearance. I would probably just show up, take pics and move on. I do not like bugging celebs/athletes for a pic or autograph. I might just say "Hey" and move on!

10 more days until I see him...woo hoo!

Return of Ovie

Well, the two game suspension and bad knee did not slow Ovie down one bit! He scored two goals on his first game back playing the Tampa Bay Lightning. Didnt fare so well against the Sabres 2 days later, racked up zero points and basically played like a slug until the 3 period. We all have our days, Ovie isnt immune!!!!

Busy week for him TV wise...The Washington Caps were featured on Sports Jobs on Versus. Ovie makes an apprearance, showcasing what a ham he is by smearing shaving cream on host Junior Seau's face. He was also featured in Ovechkin Ovation on the NHL Network. His top 10 goals were intermixed with Ovie interviews as well as interviews from team mates.

Oh the above pic must be credited to Men's Journal, it was also posted on TJ's blog, but it's too delicious not to be posted here!

I am happy to report that two Ovie girls will be meeting for the fist time! Nie from Germany will be flying out to PA to stay with HP for 10 days. Oh the shenanigens those two will get into! HP and Nie were my first Ovie friends back when I started posing on Talk Sports in June. The list has grown since then and we all plan to get together at the Caps Convention in September! Good times!

Bad Ovie!

So where to freakin' start?

Ever have that feeling that you want to throw up and cry at the same time? Yeah, well that happened to me last Monday when I heard that Ovie got injured badly on a knee to knee hit with Gleason from the Hurricanes. I was told at first it looked BAD!!!!! The next morning things didnt look any better when the buzz on the Caps message board predicted some kind of ACL tear with a possible season ending...Ouch! I hate how ESPN and NHL network had to show his injury over and over again, not cool!

Luckily, Ovie proved them wrong and was named day to day with a sore knee! Phew! He may have not been seriously injured but he got a two day suspension because of the hit. Lovely!

I religiously follow a blog ran by a huge fan, TJ (it's is listed in Blogs that I follow), I left a message on there expressing my feelings over his suspension and his Ovie's reaction to it. The blog is amazing, great articles and great pictures, both on and off season! TJ does an amazing job!

My thoughts? Ovie should not change the way the plays in order to please the masses! He plays and lives with reckless abandon and is an electrifying player to watch both on and off the ice. He has a heart of gold and personality plus. Do I feel the suspension is harsh? No not really, but he should not change who he is because of it!! There are too many people in this world who blend in, do what their told and trudge along life. Ovie is a fresh of breath air and a unique individual. Not just "another brick in the wall" (yeah, I just quoted Pink Floyd!). Go on with your bad self Ovie, it's better to be hated for who you are, than loved for who your are not!

In other Ovie news, the December/January Men's Journal is out featuring 4 hot Ovie photos as well as a short interview! Please grab a copy, you know I already did!

Ovie should hopefully be back Dec. 7th against the Tampa Bay Lightning..Let's hope he behaves, the count down begins to his Jan. 2. L.A. arrival!

In non Ovie news...I got to chat with Laker guard Sasha Vujacic again! He touched my bracelets...Sigh!!!!!!!

Oviecentric

Ok, so I have made this blog "Oviecentric" again, but I will throw in some Kopi/Kings stuff once in a while. It's much easier to keep up with one player than two.

Ovie continues to improve after his comeback, although he was ejected last game against the Buffalos Sabres for a from behind hit that resulted in the player smashing his head. No suspension for this incident, but the needs to behave for the next 55 games or he will face a suspension! Cant have that happen! He comes to L.A in a month! Would be my luck to miss him twice in one season!

Looks like Ovie cut his hair too! A shame, his mop top will be missed!

Next game is tonite against "The Habs"...I will promise a better report!

On a caps realated note, I cant get over the resemblence between Sasha Vujacic of the Lakers and Caps player Mathieu Perrault! Seperated at birth?

He's Back!

Nice comeback by Ovie, only scored one goal, but it's a start! He looked great out there! Nice Caps win against the Rangers 4-2. Ovie looked ecstatic to be playing at Madison Square Garden, picked the perfect venue for his comeback! MSG is L.A's Forum. Think a trip to NYC is in order.

Ovie took hits like he never was injured, what a relief! I wouldve been a nervous wreck if I was at that game! Two weeks with out Ovie is long time for a Caps fan, but it really is a pleasure to see him back in action!

Kopi was scoreless last game against the Flyers, Flyers beat the Kings 3-2. Kopi seems lost with out Ryan Smythe who will be out a month with the ubiquitous "upper body" injury.

Kopi Still leads the NHL in point, 32, while Ovie has dropped down to number nine with 25! Tough competition this season!!!!!

Caps play the "Habs" (Canadiens) tonite, Kings play the Flames tomorrow.