Tocchet: Ovechkin is league's best

With all apologies to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, whom Lightning coach Rick Tocchet includes as two of the game's top three players, Washington's Alex Ovechkin is the best, Tocchet said.

Beyond the skills and the stats -- Ovechkin enters the game tied for second in the league with 25 goals, third with 49 points and first with 227 shots (62 more than second-place Dustin Brown) -- there is this:

"Ovechkin just doesn't sit on the outside and take one-timers," Tocchet said. "He's in front of the net. he goes behind. He does a lot of wraps. He's a special player because he's an aggressive player. That's why I think he's the best player, because he's an aggressive player. He's not just a pure sniper who sits on the outside all day."

Tocchet said he hopes the Lightning does not treat him with too much respect.

"The last time Ovechkin, the first five minutes hit three of our players hard, and I didn't see much reaction, which wasn't something I liked," Tocchet said of the last time the teams played. I don't want our team to go into that mode of we'll play off him. I want us to be aggressive. I don't want turnaways on him. I want to see guys hitting him. This is division rival. We're not here to sit around and watch these guys. We have to be very physical against them."

Other stuff from the morning skate: Seems like defenseman Paul Ranger is out of tonight's game with an undisclosed injury. No word on if it is serious. Either way, with Lukas Krajicek already out, the team likely will have to call up someone from AHL Norfolk. We'll know more later. ... Tocchet said Krajicek has a new upper body injury to go with his old one. He came out of the lokcer room today with bandages on fingers of both hands. ... Tocchet said we might see a lot more of a reunited MVP line of center Vinny Lecavalier and wings Marty St. Louis and Vinny Prospal. Ryan Malone had displaced Prospal of late, but Tocchet said he likes the line of center Jeff Halpern, Malone and Evgeny Artyukhin. "Maybe that magic," Tocchet said of the MVP line. "We've been looking for that all year, so we'll give it a shot. We need production from that line." ... Mike Smith gets the start in goal. ... Goalie Olie Kolzig practiced with the team for the first time since tweaking a back muscle. He said he hopes to be back on the bench for the Jan. 8 game against the Coyotes. ... Tocchet said he really likes the work defenseman Matt Smaby has been doing. He said he likes the way Smaby skates and rarely gets beaten and gets to the puck in the corners. Doesn't mind the way Smaby hits, either. "He eliminates the man," Tocchet said. "If he works on his puck-handling, he can be a very reliable defenseman in the NHL." ... More compliments for Artyukhin. Tocchet called him "a menace," but in a good way because of the way he hits. "Arty has been a game-changer for us the past four or five games," Tocchet said. "He's a menace. Guys don't want to go back for the puck. He has to play like that consistently and he's going to get more ice time."

And finally, there will be a concert on the Chrysler/Jeep Plaza after Saturday's game with the Hurricanes. Buy a ticket to the game and see Danko Jones, fresh off a tour with Motorhead, for free.

Comments

[PD]

Herb if the the Bolts go again for the traditional Tampa Bay tank, it won't be a matter of picking Hedman , it will be picking cities instead.

OK hadthe chance last time and totally blew it with Stamkos. Should trade him to a team with depth for a real D man if someone would bite.

[Herb]

This collection of players needs at least 2 years to be in playoff contention.

[Nan]

I don't know Herb, we need some veteran defenseman desperately, Hedman would be good though for down the road. Hard to pass up on Tavares given the opportunity.

[Herb]

I hope they don't blow the 1st or 2nd pick on still finishing like 27th or 28th in the league. The Bolts would be better off picking Victor Hedman. They need a D-man and not another center.

[Nan]

The Bolts are moving their feet at least. I think that Smitty should have stopped at least one of those goals. The Caps are going to take the Southeast division, no question. I just want our boys to play hard, learn along the way and build for next year. Oh, and not finish last.

[Boltflasher]

Bolts ARE playing better now, but they're still 2 defenseman short of being a playoff team. Will enjoy whatever wins they manage...but are we sure we want to miss out on Tavares?

[Boltflasher]

Caps up 3-zip after first, please stop the comparisons to the Caps and how the Bolts can still make the playoffs...