Ovechkin's highlight-reel goal one for the ages

Feb 19, 2009 - 6:49 AM By Bill Bernardi PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

You had to see it to believe it.

Then again, those who did are still stunned at what they saw.

Alex Ovechkin netted a highlight-reel goal for the ages Wednesday as the Washington Capitals skated to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Simply put, Ovechkin's first-period tally made the remainder of the contest seem inconsequential.

Even in the economically strapped American capital, the value of the Russian's goal was worth so much more.

Except to Ovechkin, apparently, who coyly attempted to sell it as "top 10, probably."

With all due respect, even American Idol's Simon Cowell wouldn't rate it that low.

Let's take a closer look at Ovechkin's goal, which is sure to become an instant classic on YouTube.

Midway through the first period, Ovechkin backhanded the puck off the side boards while skating around veteran blue-liner Roman Hamrlik in the neutral zone. The reigning Hart Trophy winner then regained possession and raced up the left wing. While fending off defenseman Mathieu Schneider, Ovechkin powered his way to the net and - while falling - tucked the puck past All-Star goaltender Carey Price.

The sequence left the beleaguered Price stunned.

"I just covered the bottom half of the net like I'm supposed to because he's sitting on his butt," Price said. "Somehow he found a way to get the puck off the ice when he was sitting on his (butt). I mean, he did it against Phoenix too."

That goal is also "sick", a phrase Ovechkin has adopted and abused, much like he did with the Coyotes on January 16, 2006. In that game, Ovechkin's sliding, stick-behind-the-head classic was simply insane.

"I've seen that about a thousand times on TV, but I thought (Wednesday's goal) was as amazing a goal as I've ever seen," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said.

"(But) to backhand it off the boards to self in full stride, and then beat it ... I don't know if you know how it is to go from backwards to forwards and beating a guy that's skating after you, that's a tremendous feat."

Ovechkin merely chalked it up to experimentation.

"You have to try something new," Ovechkin said. "Sometimes I try in practice, and Bruce says, 'What are you doing?' And I say, 'Sometimes I need to change my game,' so I'm changing and it's working."

Seeing is believing. Well, sometimes.