Takin' a T/O with BT: Alexander Ovechkin's Own Worst Enemy and Round Two Picks

We'll get to the fact that I've thoroughly embarrassed myself in the first round of the playoffs in a minute.

Although the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks played a great Game Seven that was exciting until the last buzzer (although it didn't go to triple OT like I had hoped), I was glued to the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals' Game Seven much more intently.

It could have been the fact that I was running on 39 hours straight of being awake by the time the Flames/Sharks game came on, but needless to say, I saw more of the Flyers and Caps.

Throughout that series, I noticed something. Despite the veteran presence on each squad, all of the youngsters showed up in this series when it mattered most.

Nicklas Backstrom came on extremely strong, scoring in each of the final four games of the series, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards continued to cement their status as the Flyers' future (granted, that's if Carter isn't offered a contract by another team as an RFA this season), and Alexander Ovechkin, although he seemed to lose a step for a few games, showed up when it mattered. 

But for everything he does so well, is Alexander Ovechkin his own worst enemy?

I'm not saying this as a jaded Leafs fan—okay, I could be, but as far as you know I'm not—and I'm not saying this as someone who wants to see his celebrations toned down, claiming that he'll get hurt.

In actuality, I just don't want to get shown up.

So why is Alexander Ovechkin his own (and the Capitals) worst enemy?

It's pretty straightforward actually. 

Shift length.

Now sometimes shifts go on too long because you can't get out of the zone, and going to the bench will leave your team at a disadvantage at a pivotal moment. If that happens, you'll find players going off at the first opportunity that presents itself.

Not Alexander Ovechkin. 

Throughout the entire series, Ovechkin could be seen dragging on his shifts, staying on the ice as long as possible because, let's face it, he's so talented, that even he thinks the more he's on the ice, the better chance the Caps have of winning.

If it was any other player, he'd be benched—no coach would tolerate that. But because he's Alexander the Great, there's probably a little leeway, as to an extent Ovie is right—when he's on the ice, good things happen.

But is a tired Ovechkin really going to help the Caps late in the game and in overtime when they need him at his best?

Think about this: Throughout the first round series against the Flyers, Alex averaged 24 minutes of ice time, good for second on the team to Mike Green who averages nearly 27 minutes a game (26:58).

In that same light, Ovechkin averages the tenth-most shift on his team—eight fewer than team leader Tom Poti (who averages 24:00 minutes and 30 shifts a game), making Ovechkin the only player on his team to average more ice time, than shifts per game (24:03/22.1).

Not one player on the opposing Philadelphia Flyers had that problem, nor did any player on any other playoff-bound team. Every other player's ice time was below the amount of their average shifts per game in the playoffs. That's a big trend that Ovechkin is going against.

Now it's unfair to pin this on number eight alone. Maybe head coach Bruce Boudreau has something to do with it too. Although Bruce is smarter than this, the hype may be affecting him as he throws Alex out there for extended shifts.

If that's the case, then Boudreau needs to shape up, because he's going to hurt his star player. Although I highly doubt it, It could even be a combination of both situations.

Alexander Ovechkin will continue to put up the points, because that's what he gets paid to do. But if Alex can change one facet of his game, it should be to learn when his shift is over so he can get off the ice.

If he doesn't learn this quickly, he's not only hurting the Capitals by keeping a fatigued star on the ice, but he's risking injuring himself and having his body deteriorate before it should. 

Sidenote: We're going on to the playoff picks now, and just so everyone knows I'm not just taking shots at Ovechkin to get reads or to stir the pot. If I wanted to do that I'd bash the Oakland Raiders. This is just one flaw the kid needs to work on, and it just seems to be a result of him loving the game too much.

Also, I've discovered that people who have no interest in hockey actually read these, just because of the title. So if you're reading this just because, then here's something not hockey: Nick Swisher broke his bat by swinging at air last night. 

Alright, so with that out of the way, we're going to my picks for the second round of the NHL playoffs. Unfortunately, I'm last in the pool with Danielle, Thayne, and Derek, and because of the fact that Frank Drebin even beat me, we're going to be brief here.

Frank Drebin: How dare you not include me! You watch, the next time you give a public speech, I'm peeing while wearing a live mic. It didn't stop me when it was the Queen talking and it won't stop me now!

Bryan: Fine, but can we just make the picks and leave this time?

FD: You win this time scum.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers

BT: This is going to be physical, and a nice back and forth series.

Carey Price is starting to prove himself to me, as although he struggled a bit in the first round, he showed up when it counted in game seven, but so did Biron.

Adding Saku Koivu to this Montreal lineup (and watching him re-integrate himself after returning from injury) will only make the Habs stronger, although the Flyers proved that they could out-score the Caps, and even stymie their stars when it counted.

I smell an upset

Bryan says Flyers win 4-2. 

FD: I can't believe how wrong you are. My record proves this. I'm superior in all ways, especially in "accidental drug dealers backed over with my car".

The Canadiens can't be beaten.

Frank says Habs win 4-1. 

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers

BT: Alright, so the "Martin Brodeur theory" didn't go that great. Actually it went miserably—worse than every flashback scene in Airplane—

FD: Hey, those references are mine!

BT: Bite me Drebin. I say goaltending wins this series, and there's no way Marc-Andre Fleury is better than Henrik Lundqvist.

Bryan says Rangers win 4-3. 

FD: Fine I steal your pick. Except I'm taking a game away from it! I'll show you, you terrorist!

Frank says Rangers win 4-2. 

Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche

BT: I really want this to be a throwback...

FD: I'll show you a throwback. Priscilla Presley circa 1990—in other words before the botox! Now that's a throwback!

BT: Whatever Frank. Anyways, there will be blood, there will be physicality—it'll be exactly like the mid-90's where only Rambo could bring peace to this rivalry.

Bryan says Avalanche win 4-2 (See? I still don't like Detroit!) 

FD: You said Rambo and There Will be Blood? Two movie references? You're losing your touch Thiel—like a three fingered French Maid, cleaning up your act will be difficult. Your picks don't help you much either.

Frank says Red Wings win 4-3.

San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars

BT: It figures that there would be two series that I would claim that the winners "couldn't possibly go past the second round" and they would then play each other in the second round.

FD: You suck more than a—

BT: Don't say it Frank. 

FD: Fine, but just so you know, I trust Marty Turco more than Evgeni Nabokov. Yes, Nabokov led the NHL in wins this season, but I think Turco has more to prove. He'll steal this series.

Frank says Stars win 4-1. 

BT: Are you kidding me?! You made a pick based on NHL knowledge instead of just stupid ramblings? WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?!

Ugh, whatever, I'm finished.

FD: Then my plan worked perfectly.

BT: Jerk.

Bryan says Sharks win 4-2. 

Alright, well we're done for another round. Hopefully everyone gets swept so Frank can outscore me in the pool and then show me up in the Conference Finals preview. 

And just because, here are the standings so far for the Bleacher Report pool:

FD: Notice how I'm not even a legal competitor and I'm beating him.

BT: Shut up Frank.

2008 Bleacher Report NHL Playoff Pool Standings 

1. Derek—14 points

2. Thayne—12 points

3. Danielle—11 points

4. Frank Drebin—10 points

5. Bryan Thiel—8 points