"i remember the song 'the orange the black.' like, [singing] the orange and the black. that one. i remember that. i remember--i don't know if they still do it, like the PECO power play. i don't know why i always remembered that. i remember mike richards. he was definitely my favorite player. i love his game. he was gritty and got the job done."
-- cole knuble, the son of former flyer mike knuble, the flyers' 103rd pick, on learning to skate at voorhees and what he remembers from philly
Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, the twin pillars of hockey in the District, played their 1,000th game together on Tuesday in Calgary.
Ovechkin, a 36-year-old Russian star, is described by former and current teammates as loud, flashy and boisterous. Backstrom, a 34-year-old from Sweden, is described as quiet, laid-back, thoughtful and composed.
“Opposites attract,” said former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau.
“You can’t help but talk about both of them in the same breath,” Karl Alzner, their former teammate, said. “They go hand in hand.”
“It’s very rare and we’re very fortunate to be in the same organization for this long,” said Backstrom said. “I think we know everything about each other inside out. Just very fortunate to play like this for this long.”
Um.
Boudreau, the first coach to play Ovechkin and Backstrom on a line together during the 2008-09 season, described Ovechkin and Backstrom’s relationship as like “husband and wife.” When he coached them, he could recall how they would chat together most days, going back and forth with each other. Other days, they needed their own space.
“There would be times when Nick would roll his eyes when Ovi would be doing stuff, but in the end, they knew where their bread was buttered,” Boudreau said. “They know each other better than two guys know anybody and so it always came back to them. Just two amazing players.”
UM.
Ovechkin and Backstrom’s opposite personalities complement each other well in the locker room as well. Alzner, who was drafted by the Capitals and spent nine seasons with Washington, called the duo perhaps one of the best in NHL history because of their contrasting skills and characteristics. Alzner said Ovechkin is more “in your face,” while Backstrom is more “wait in the weeds” before throwing in his comments here and there.
“They are a perfect combo,” Alzner remarked.
In team meetings or closed-door sessions after bad games, Alzner would recall the same situation popping up each time. Ovechkin would typically start with a loud message, then Backstrom would usually follow it up with more reserved comments along the same lines. They took different approaches, but had the same end goal.
OKAY SO LIKE.
Off the ice, Ovechkin said he can tell when Backstrom is in a good mood, bad mood and vice versa. They might not spend time together as much outside of the rink as when they were younger, but their bond is still apparent.
After a recent photo shoot, they fielded questions about their time together in Washington. Once again, they had similar answers, just different ways of getting there. When asked what the best attribute was of the other, or the best compliment they could give the other, their answers were simple.
“You’re so beautiful, man,” Ovechkin said to Backstrom as he turned to face his teammate.
“You’re so cute,” responded Backstrom. Then they burst out laughing and walked down the hall, together again.
These married-as-hell-ass motherfuckers just being all kinds of soulmates up in here, how dare.
Laich was such a smart and steady player. I hope he's doing something better than being a weird influencer these days.
Andrew Gordon! Beags! (I swear I'm not gonna write every guy's name while I do this...but this team was a high point in my fandom, these guys are My Bears and My Caps.)
"We want Pittsburgh (Crosby Sucks!)" while they're still kicking Brodeur's poor old ass out there
Oh, I forgot about Lovejoy taking a puck to the face. And that they showed the sutures. I thought the injury was worse tho?
Malkin, in monotone: "you look awesome. Girls love."
Ah. "They said the pressure would make it swell."
<10 min of rivalry discussion>
Put some ice on that face, will you?!
Y'know when this came out, we were watching it after seeing that week's games. But I don't remember how some of them turned out, so I'm relying on the music for hints
Damn that Ovi hit on Malkin
*were* Ovi and Geno besties at that point? Maybe I'm misrembering.
"More pucks on net guys, that goalie's shaky" Poor Neuvy
Neuvy save on Malkin's penalty shot tho!
"Fuck off that's *squeak*ing shit" 🤣
Theyre barely showing Backy and even less of Semin, this is so weird
"This goalie isnt that good" 😿😿
He did give up that rebound though.
Oh i forgot about that fucking glove cover by Fleury. Life before in-goal cameras, though idk if it would have helped this one.
Ugh, shootout.
Did they show Laich's run twice for some reason?
Crosby reading Neuvy, something about "hes flinching every time"? I can't hear it :(
To end on a positive note, i do love all the technical details that they show, like arena conversion.
