The Flyers might've nipped out the Caps for the right to play in this year's NHL Winter Classic, but that might not be the league's only showcase game this year. The Caps are expected to play the Montreal Canadiens in Olympic Stadium, according to the Globe and Mail.
It's a strong showcase for Ovie and the Caps, all before what's likely to be a crowd of 60,000 people -- and many rabid hockey fans watching on "Hockey Night in Canada." It's the game's biggest star (Sorry, Sid and Geno) against that country's favorite non-Leafs team.
Says the Globe and Mail:
"The indoor game at Olympic Stadium is expected to be contested on Nov. 28 or the previous Saturday to help commemorate the Canadiens' centennial celebrations that will conclude on Dec. 5 with a match against the rival Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre.
"The Olympic Stadium game was an idea brought forth, discussed and met with approval at the competition committee meeting three weeks ago - providing the NHL schedule makers could accommodate the request."
It's likely to be a hostile crowd for Ovie and the gang. The crowd's certain to be going nutty for the home team. Don Cherry, no doubt, will be working the fans up for weeks into a patriotic lather about the evils of show-boating players like Ovechkin.
And then there might be the lingering resentment associated with the stadium's former tenants: the Montreal Expos. Washington got their baseball team, and all Montreal got was a moth-eaten mascot. (Although with the way the team's playing, some Nats fans would argue that Montreal got the better end of that deal.)
But hostile crowds don't seem to affect this team much. It's Ovie on a big stage, right where he belongs.
Chris Needham used to write Capitol Punishment. Youppi is better than Screech and Slapshot.
