Overchken Predicts Goal 51 Against Leafs

Washington Capital's Alex Ovechkin, the first and probably only 50 goal scorer in the NHL this year, remains unrepentant about his controversial “hot stick” move.

Ovechkin must know the current NHL rule book does not have anything in it that prohibits excessive goal celebrations.

He was quoted on Fan 590 in Toronto today saying he wants to celebrate goal No. 51 in Toronto some other way. Capitals general manager George McPhee said he had coach Bruce Boudreau talk with star forward Ovechkin to discuss the goal celebration that followed his 50th goal of the season.

McPhee assured listeners he will not be celebrating his next goal in the same way. Ovechkin drew a lot of criticism for celebrating his goal by pretending his hockey stick was too hot to pick up. It was too contrived, McPhee said.

Meanwhile, comedian Torben Rolfsen is getting a lot of mileage out of this joke at Ovechkin’s expense.

“The Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin celebrated his 50th goal by putting his stick on the ice and then mimed warming his hands over it. Some observers called it hot-dogging; when Alex was a toddler in the Soviet Union it was called central heating,” Rolfsen said.

His joke was on the Web site of Vancouver’s The Province and was quoted in the National Post.

The Fan had a piece of unintentional humour on the news today. It reported that a win by Toronto over the Capitals would put them just six points out of the playoff picture, so they are still in contention for the Stanley Cup.