Caps game = Litmus test for Penguins

Biggest game of the season. Period.

We don't like them. They don't like us.
We help sick children. They drown puppies.
The rivalry between the Pen/Caps has surpassed the Pens/Flyers in intensity - for now anyways.
A couple of the Russian players for the Caps publicly slagged Crosby in the press.

Not that anyone really cares what they say.

Don Cherry gave his opinion on Ovechkin recently:
"I'm going to tell you about this guy: He's got a free ride. He runs at guys, does this stuff,'' Cherry said. "I am predicting somebody's going to get him. And somebody's going to get him good. There's somebody out there - some big defenseman is going to be sitting in the weeds. As he cuts across center ice, somebody's going to cut him in half.''

Whether he's talking about a good, clean hockey hit, or a Dale Hunter type of thing I'm not sure, but here's my opinion on the matter:
If you're a player in the NHL, and you don't want to see Alex Ovechkin launch himself against the glass and scream like a banshee after he scores a goal, consider this strategy:

Don't let the man score.

If he does, and acts like an idiot - deal with him old-style NHL.

If he does it again - deal with him old-style NHL again.

He'll get the idea when he checks his mouth, and there's a few more teeth missing every time he acts like a mental patient.

As far as I'm concerned Ovechkin reminds me of the prima-donna wide receivers in the NFL. When they score a TD, they have to come up with a celebration that gets them on TV. NFL fans initially LOVED that crap - until it got old, and a penalty was created for players who thought they were bigger than the game.

The NHL was forced to create an Avery rule - I'm sure an Ovechkin rule isn't too far away. THis will happen when he celebrates like an ass-clown, then someone really hurts him.
He doesn't just celebrate goals - he taunts the opposition - and I can't wait until he is held accountable.

This is what's coming Mr Ovechkin

Cherry also pleaded with the children of Canada to follow in the footsteps of Joe Thornton, Joe Sakic and Brendan Shanahan when it comes to celebrating goals. Not like a puppy that wets itself when someone walks in the room.

Ovechkins response:
"He's a funny guy and old guy. He likes old-fashioned hockey," "He's not interesting to me, so he can say whatever he wants. I don't care about him," Ovechkin said.

So, as far as I'm concerned, Ovechkin has cut down Crosby and Cherry - two Canadian hockey icons.
I don't condone violence - but in this case I CONDONE.
Why do I condone violence you might ask?
Well, I've seen several games where Ovechkin has blatantly gone out of his way to run Malkin.

That's intent to injure folks.

It's all about accountability, and Ovechkin has some hurt comin' his way.

Now, Caps fans will retort with their favorite (and only) response:

"Yea, well you're just jealous!"

No, I have nothing to be jealous about. The Pens have two players that are better, and - oh yea - and they do it with class.
Ovie, obviously you don't know that word, so allow me to help.
Class in Russian = класс
Try it sometime.
Here, I'll come down to your level:
Ovie rooms appropriately enough with Semin - we don't know where that finger has been - but we can guess.

There is a LOT of Ovechkin love goin' around lately - he might even be voted MVP again (he doesn't deserve it this year) but his "act" will wear thin with fans outside of Washington.

Right now in the Sid/Ovie rivalry, Ovechkin is the good guy (un-freaking-believable).
Soon, the ship will right, and things will be as they should:

The clean cut Canadian boy = good

The narcissistic Russian douche = evil