A few tweets and thoughts on Alex Ovechkin’s ice time

This is going to be a quick post, with a few tweets and thoughts on what seems to be the sports story of the day in DC and beyond: Alex Ovechkin’s ice time in Game 2 versus the New York Rangers last night.

A few of mine from this morning…

They don't put individual player stats (including ice time) on the Stanley Cup. I'm fan of DH32 doing whatever it takes in each game to win.

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Mike Holden (@mikeholden) May 01, 2012

Odd how people felt inmates ran asylum w/ Bruce & Ovi's shifts were too long etc, yet now DH manages bench differently & people fuss. #Caps

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Mike Holden (@mikeholden) May 01, 2012

@pfholden It deserves attention (though Ovi isn't only Young Gun who saw less ice time), but I don't find it to be a big issue if it works.

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Mike Holden (@mikeholden) May 01, 2012

One from Mike Vogel after the game last night…

Eagerly awaiting stories on Backstrom's reduced ice time, lowest of 45-game SC playoff career. I'm sure everyone asked him about it. Right?

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Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) May 01, 2012

And a couple of mine from after the game…

@BradenOwen_92 only DH32 knows for sure but likes to linematch, is playing defensive grind-it-out system & 8 is defensive liability at times

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Mike Holden (@mikeholden) May 01, 2012

@BradenOwen_92 one of the upsides is this keeps him more rested for those times when you do need to lean on him more.

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Mike Holden (@mikeholden) May 01, 2012

One way to look at this: it often feels good when you don’t need to go to your closer to win a baseball game, knowing he’ll then be better rested the next time you need him. If the Caps get involved in another long series or make a deep playoff run, keeping your players from getting too banged up is usually a good thing.

See the chart at the bottom of this article from The Globe and Mail for a look at Ovechkin’s minutes for every playoff game he’s played:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/alex-ovechkin-the-role-player/article2418893/

Ovechkin’s ice time last night is an interesting story, but I don’t see it as an issue right now.