Alex the Reckless?

A day after being ejected for the second time in less than a week and being reprimanded with a two game suspension Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin declared that he won’t change his playing style. This 24 year-old star who is known for his highlight goals is also gaining a reputation for his aggressive play which has resulted in a couple of well publicized knee of knee hits. Similar to a knee on knee hit with Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Sergei Gonchar last spring Ovechkin had a knee on knee incident on Monday night with Carolina Hurricanes Tim Gleason which shook up both players. Washington who are serious Stanley Cup contenders were left with a shaken up captain who sustained a knee injury. Ovechkin who despite missing time this year with a shoulder injury and game misconducts is on pace for 54 goals stated that he won’t change his style which is just fine with his coach Bruce Boudreau. “He’s got to be him and I don’t want him to change,” Boudreau said after it was announced that Ovechkin who stuck his knee out on the play received a two game suspension. “That’s what makes him one of the best players in the world, one of the best personalities in sports and the reason you pay to watch for guys like Alex.” Boudreau went on to say that Ovechkin is aiming for a return next Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and that he is very sorry for what happened. “I regret that this has happened,” Ovechkin who has 30 points this season said. “I’m glad Tim wasn’t injured because I never want to see anyone get hurt.” Still he did give a statement when it came to the possibilities of curving his reckless playing style. “No, maybe it (being suspended) just get me more angry. I’m not going to change.”