"I play with Crosby and Briere, right," he asked.
Sidney Crosby is, of course, the Bird to Ovechkin's Magic (or vice versa, depending on your NBA allegiances or if you're a Penguins fan). Crosby, leading the league in points with 65 through Wednesday night, led all players with 825,783 votes.
Briere, meanwhile, has a more infamous connection to Ovechkin. In possibly the most controversial moment of the Russian star's two seasons in the NHL, Ovechkin checked the Buffalo forward from behind, sending him face-first into the boards during a Saturday, Dec. 2 game in D.C.
It wasn't a hard hit, but it was square between Briere's numbers and hard enough to send him dangerously to the ice. Briere avoided serious injury; Ovechkin was issued a game misconduct and was fined by the league; but, contrary to some media outcry and protests from the Sabres, was not suspended for the hit.
The next time the Caps and Sabres met in Buffalo, Ovechkin was passionately jeered throughout the game while the Sabres blew out Washington, 6-3.
Although Briere initially called the hit "gutless," both players have stressed the need to move on.
"Obviously when someone hits you from behind, it's a cheap shot. It's not a game where I'll be looking to get him back or anything. It's over," Briere said prior to the rematch in Buffalo on Dec. 26.
Tuesday night, Ovechkin shared much of the same sentiment when it came to Briere and to his arch rival Crosby.
"We play on the same team. They are my teammates," he said.
Ovechkin had some spring in his skates against the Flyers, citing the all-star selection as a factor. He converted a Dainius Zubrus steal into the Capitals' second goal at six minutes, 36 seconds of the first period. At 16:45 of the second, Ovechkin ripped a quick shot over Robert Esche's shoulder for a 3-0 lead.
"He played well. I know he's fairly excited about going [to the All-Star Game]," said Coach Glen Hanlon.
Ovechkin, however, may not have been the most excited player in the Capitals' locker room after the game. That honor goes to bruising winger Donald Brashear, who tallied his first goal of the season on a bizarre play that saw the puck literally land on Esche's back and that needed replay to be confirmed as a score.
"It's funny how it happens sometimes," said Brashear, whose last goal was March 25, 2006 against Ottawa. "You get some great chances, and you miss them; next thing you know, you get a lucky bounce like that."
Brashear has endeared himself to Capitals fans with some entertaining brawls and momentum-changing physical shifts on the fourth line. He received a loud ovation after the goal was announced, with some of the over 13,000 at the Verizon Center rising to their feet.
"They like the style I play," said Brashear. "Physical play has always been part of hockey, and I'm trying to show the people who are trying to take it away that it's still part of the game. You can still use it."
The win over the Flyers improved Washington's record to 19-17-7 and 45 points, eighth in the conference. The rest of the month is another NHL scheduling "quirk," as the Capitals play at Ottawa twice (Jan. 16 and 30) and at Carolina twice (Jan 18 and 26) — before playing the Hurricanes a third time, at home, on Jan. 27.
