Here’s Jack Hillen of the New York Islanders taking a slap shot to the face. And not just any slap shot, but one from the great Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. It’s a slapper from the NHL’s aristocracy, if you will. And what’s deliciously ironic is the discussion by the announcers at the front of the clip about how Ovechkin didn’t want to wear a full face shield be it was “too cumbersome.” You know what else is cumbersome? Getting your face blasted off by a 3-inch disc of Vulcanized Czech rubber. That’ll be 6-8 weeks on the shelf with a broken jaw for Hillen. –NESW Sports.

Alexander Ovechkin is a star. He’s a big, bright, shining, Australopithecus-looking star. I love the guy; he’s great for the NHL and a nice dash of cream in the Chocolate City that is the District of Columbia. Alex also is great for that uneven blacktop on 6th Avenue in New York City. Here he is driving a zamboni around the Big Apple for a trip that Dan Steinberg was good enough to point out was actually only one city block. But at least that block is really smooth now. I’m sure all the homeless people urinating onto it later in the day will appreciate that. via.

Here’s Captials forward Alexander Ovechkin getting down with some of his fellow countrypeople (presumably), including Alexander Semin and Sergei Federov. And speaking from experience, if you EVER get the chance to party with people from the old Soviet bloc, DO IT. Those parties might be the only good thing that ever came out of communism; these guys needed more than anyone else to get their drink on. And get it on they do. via, via.

Total Pro Sports had this video of Alexander Ovechkin trying to give a hit–and actually taking one instead–during action in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semis last night. The Penguins actually pulled this one out in OT, meaning that we’ll see at least two more games of this panty-moisteningly awesome series. Game 4 will be in Pittsburgh tomorrow. I’m pulling for a Penguins win and a Crosby ACL tear right before the series ends. I really don’t like that kid.

This Eastern Conference semifinal between the Caps and the Penguins has lived up to the hype so far. Washington beat Pittsburgh last night, 4-3, as Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin each scored three goals, suggesting that this series should just be settled in a 60-frame shootout, and I really wouldn’t have a problem with that. Crosby’s efforts came from sitting in front of the crease, plunking in rebounds, including a baseball-swing goal in the third that reminded me of this gem from Paul Kariya. Ovechkin’s, conversely, were agile wristers from outside the dots that found their marks in the back of the net.

Sadly, this series may not go the distance, since Washington is already up 2-0. This series heads back to Pittsburgh for Game 3, and if you’re one of the seven people that has Versus, you can actually watch it!

I realize this is starting to look pretty bad. All I can say is that we really don’t have a jones for Capitals center Alexander Ovechkin. While other guys are out beating their wives or complaining about their contracts, Ovie just seems determined to have fun wherever he goes, even if he has to nearly decapitate himself by driving a utility cart under a closing garage door to do it. It’s that old Soviet gunfire that keeps ringing in their heads. It makes you do wonderful things.

|Ramblings Of The Unmotivated, better video from the Bog|