Alex Kovalev Answers the Critics

Alex Kovalev showed that he still has the ability to turn boos into cheers as he did on Saturday night at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. Lately this 36 year-old goal scorer has been taking criticism from fans for his lack of scoring but the fans showered the first year Senator with cheers after he made some history against the Carolina Hurricanes. Coming into action with only four goals this 16 year veteran scored his 82^nd career hat trick and in the process surpassed the 400 goal milestone in leading Ottawa to a 4-2 win against the Hurricanes. “It’s always great to pass that point,” said Kovalev who now has 401 for his career. “I know it’s been 14 or 15 (games since he’s scored) or something like that so I could have done that early but now I can forget about it.” Ottawa management and fans alike got to see not only Kovalev but another star forward in Jason Spezza have his best game of the season. Spezza who along with Kovalev drew some criticism earlier on from Sens owner Eugene Melnyk scored a goal and made a great defensive play in saving a goal. Not exactly known for defence Spezza pulled a loose puck off the Sens goal line moments before Kovalev scored the winning goal. “The puck just kind of squeaked between (Elliott’s) arm and lucky enough I got to it before it went in and then we get the goal,” said Spezza. “When things are going good it happens that way and when things are going bad that one trickles in and we don’t get score that goal.”