No Big O for Ovie

Olympic Stadium game canceled

It looks like Ovie isn't going to visit the Big O after all.

The plans for the Caps to meet the Canadiens in Montreal's Olympic Stadium this November have been scrapped, according to Capitals Insider.  The plan was a bit of a consolation prize for the Caps, since they lost out on facing the Bruins in next year's Winter Classic.

The Globe and Mail had reported back in July that Ovie and the Caps were likely to take on the the Canadiens in front of 60,000 rabid, nationalistic, maple-leaf-wearing fans.

But now those dreams of Ovie silencing the throngs with his four-goal performance are done. But why?

Blame the CFL.

Yes, the CFL. Rouges for everyone!

That bastardized version of football's Montreal Alouettes (hint: never name your team after a child's song. What's next, the Cleveland Twinkling Stars?) are playing well. They're 7-1 and look to be playing deep into the playoffs.

If that happens, NHL officials fear they wouldn't be able to convert the stadium quickly enough from football to hockey, so the game is off. C'est la vie.

So if Ovie is looking for a big stage to play on next year, he's going to have to make one himself, by playing deep into the playoffs, and leading the Caps on another Cup run -- that's Stanley, not Grey.  (Though he could probably do that, too.)

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