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ARLINGTON, VA. -- Alexander Ovechkin is the most fun-loving star in the National Hockey League, working for the glibbest of coaches in Bruce Boudreau.
But mention Sean Avery's potential for shift-disturbing antics in the coming series between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers and watch the smile quickly drain from both men's faces.
"I don't care," Ovechkin said in yesterday's first round of questioning about Avery's impact after practice here. But like Avery himself, the topic won't go away quietly.
"Lots of people say stupid things," Ovechkin later said. "But it's just part of the job. They get paid for it. I just ignore him. He likes lots of talk, but (it's better) he talks to the media and not to us.
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"I don't listen to anyone. I just concentrate on my team."
Ovechkin isn't without a little theatre of his own. He'd love to perform one of his celebratory goal dances in Avery's line of sight and tried stirring the pot a bit himself yesterday by suggesting Ranger goalie Henrik Lundqvist's equipment is over-sized.
Boudreau briefly coached Avery in Manchester of the AHL and said it was the week that felt like a year and the word is Avery gets more than a mention in the ex-Leaf's coming biography. But Boudreau, who once knew Avery's father Al in the Marlies' chain, has an appreciation for Sean, too.
"Wouldn't you do what you do best?," Boudreau responded at the first mention of Avery's reputation for troublemaking. "I'm sure Sean is not going to change. He's a really good hockey player. But I think he knows how hard the playoffs are. He's just going to be a big thorn in our sides who can play hockey with the best of them."
The Caps are favourites in the series, with their 55 goal-scorer leading a fearsome power play. But the Rangers have one of the best penalty-killing units and a possible edge in goal with Lundqvist over Jose Theodore. They also have 6-foot-6 ex-Leaf Nik Antropov parking himself in Theodore's crease.
"It's not just one guy who will try and aggravate, their whole team is going to do it," predicted Washington forward Brooks Laich. "In playoffs, you have to be in charge of emotions and sometimes the game plan is to get other people on tilt. We're going to try and create traffic in front of their net and maybe get under the skin of their top guys, too.
"(Avery) is not a new tactic, something that has just been thrown at us. We're aware of it and we have to make sure we have calm heads. We just have to make sure we handle that situation appropriately.
"It's two good hockey teams competing. Our guys are going to create some havoc, and they will too. It's going to be entertaining to watch."