Fedorov Asks for Absolution

by tuvanhillbilly on Apr 30, 2009 11:30 AM EDT in Translations Comment 24 comments

[Slava Malamud with Sport Express was able to catch up with Sergei Fedorov following his unforgettable unbelievable indescribable game-winning performance in game seven.]

Sergei, your goal carried your team into the second round of the playoffs, where you'll meet up against Pittsburgh. Does that team hold any special significance for you?

"Pittsburgh is a good team, they fought their way to the finals last year. We won't beat them playing the way we did against New York. When you play Pittsburgh you have to be extremely precise in your own zone, and can't allow any turnovers."

Now the Russian National Team is going to have to make do without the Capitals troika.

"Yeah, it looks that way. Well I wish the guys success and I hope that the coaches will make use of the experience we gained in Quebec. They know how to do it."

After your goal, Ovechkin charged you like a bull and threw himself on your shoulders. Did that scare you a little bit and couldn't you tell Alexander that, in the interest of his teammates' safety, he should tone down his expressions of joy?

"Yeah, he gave me a powerful embrace. I'm sure he thought that my back wasn't hurting but, in reality, it really was... But then Ovechkin lowered me down on the ice quite softly. I am very thankful to him for that."

Ted Leonsis said that he still remembers the game-winning goal you scored for Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals against Washington in 1998. Could you say that you've exonerated yourself to the owner?

"Sure, okay. I'll agree to that! I've talked about this with Ted and, to be honest, it was awkward for me. If people are still talking to this day about that goal, then I'm ready to offer up my goal today as absolution."

After missing out for several years you're now playing in the playoffs for the second year in a row. Are you swamped with emotions?

"Yeah, it's been a while since I've played for the cup. I didn't understand where I belonged, or what I should be doing, what my mission was. But now things are moving along on their own paths, and I feel fantastic. I'm even amazed myself, but the biggest test is still ahead of us."

A lot of people called you an old man and said that you were finished as a player. It seems like there's still a little something in the tank.

"There sure is." (smiling) "It was a usual charge into the zone, we were skating two-on-two, and I decided to shoot, since there hadn't been many shots in the game. It went into the near side upper corner."

"It's been against that same near side above the glove that you've been most successful in scoring against Lundqvist in this series. Were you considering that fact when you shot?

"No, I didn't think about it. It was just that they gave me a lot of room and I decided it would be a good thing to shoot. I knew that the defenseman was giving me the near corner. Henrik fell on his knees, and I shot up high. Basically it was your standard shot which you work on in practice. When you're lining up a shot and moving the stick from back to front, especially when you snap up the puck at the very end of the shot, the goalkeeper usually sits down."

In your younger days you were something of an Ovechkin for Detroit. But that Detroit team also had problems with winning in the playoffs. Have you shared your experiences with your teammates?

"Of course, I got the chance to say something to the guys on the bench during the games, especially game six in New York. It's a normal thing to share your experience, but only if you don't start saying things that a coach usually says. In that case you become just another coach, and I don't want that. Basically, I talk a little bit, especially with the Russian guys. I talked some with Varly. I tried to make him feel more comfortable. For a young goaltender, thrown into such a difficult situation, he was really calm. It's good to be young and not understand what's going on."

Sometimes in the playoffs a superstar has to change himself and assume a different role on the team. Is Ovechkin doing just that now?

"Today, for sure. In New York he played really well: he scored and made assists. It's plain to see that he gives it everything he's got. Sometimes maybe his emotions go a tad overboard. Right now, I'm sure he's in the dressing room bouncing off the walls. I would try to stay as far away from his as possible, since he's already laid me out on the ice once, and that's enough... I think he just wants to win, no matter how. In these games he'd drive himself through the boards if that's what it took to win. But usually he plays his own style of game. We try to give him the puck and clear a way for him. For instance, he loves to play one-on-one against a defenseman, and in these cases I lag behind and Victor Kozlov helps him on the front end."

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I will always read a Feds interview

Sage old vet, that guy. I look forward to growing old with Ovie because eventually as he masters English and comes into his own, he’ll become like #91. One would hope….

by DonnieKnutts on Apr 30, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another great interview and translation. I don’t think Feds even needs absolution considering the Caps were already done at that point. It’s not like he stole it in game 7.

by zephyr on Apr 30, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

a remarkably similar shot though

backed up Calle J. and went high glove (what else) on Zilla…money

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Apr 30, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That shot sure looked like 1998… a whole lot. Then again, the Caps were a great team in 1998, the Red Wings were better…

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Caps on Apr 30, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“A lot of people called you an old man and said that you were finished as a player. It seems like there’s still a little something in the tank.”

Uh-oh, sounds like he was calling out some people here. Like Ted said, Feds earned his $4 million with that shot.

by b.orr4 on Apr 30, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Feds earned his $4 million

He has earned his pay every day, it’s just not obvious to some, to judge from recent comments on this site. He had bad injuries last year and this year, and he is getting on (though I maintain that elite athletes don’t age like we do). But he’s still, perhaps more than ever, a great tactical commander, as his comments in this article reveal, and whether he admits it or not, a fine coach and mentor. And not just for the Russian kids. He left practice early with Backstrom a couple of times that I noticed, and Backstrom’s face-off percentage climbed. Could be a connection — something a good reporter might pursue. Laich has said publicly that he sits next to him in the room whenever possible, trying to soak in his wisdom and experience. That goal was beautiful, but Fedorov’s switch to defensive tactics for the remaining 5 minutes was the real mark of an exceptional player and veteran. I hope he’s with us for some time to come! It’s absolutely sublime to watch him skate.

by FlyingCloud on Apr 30, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

If he isn’t willing to play in the NHL anymore, due to age or whatever, what do you think it would take to keep him in the organization, and what role could he possibly fill in a non-playing situation?

Realistically I don’t think the caps can afford to just let his veteran experience disappear if he decides to not play next year.

by JustJeff on May 1, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s good to be young and not understand what’s going on.

In reference to Varly. I’ve thought this on a couple of occassions. Is he really that calm, or is he so young/new to North America that he doesn’t appreciate how big a deal it is?

by Sct112 on Apr 30, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Personally, I don’t want to look that gift horse in the mouth. If he plays his game and kicks butt and takes names, not knowing what’s going on, I far prefer that to him knowing what’s going on and it throwing him off.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 30, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think it has anything to do with being new to North America. C’mon, the guy gave up playing in the RSL and took a paycut knowing he would almost certainly spend the year in Hershey because he wants to play in the NHL. It seems silly to propose that a world class athlete wouldn’t understand the importance of the championship of the top pro league in the sport he has dedicated his life to. He gave up his homeland to pursue the Lord Stanley’s cup. I think he gets it. More relevent is his age. I think when an athlete is young, he is less likely to realize how rare it is to play for a team that has a real shot at the cup.

by CaliCapsFan on Apr 30, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Rec’d…

I couldn’t have said it better myself…

by JustJeff on Apr 30, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ignorance is bliss!!

by bigmac1124 on Apr 30, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I loved this quote too: It’s about the same words Fedorov uses to describe his 20-year-self, leaving the USSR to play in the NHL. I don’t believe that it was entirely true of him then, and I don’t entirely believe that it’s true of Varlamov now.

by CapitalCentre on Apr 30, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For some reason I want to compare Feds to Gandalf. The Old Greybeard has been reborn as Feds the White (at least when visiting)— he’s older but wiser, stronger, more powerful, and with a strong sense of purpose. So is Avery the Balrog in this tale?

"I tried to capture the spirit of the thing"

by tuvanhillbilly on Apr 30, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No, Avery is Gollum.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 30, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

gollum did have a few redeeming qualities. Can’t really say the same for Avery.

by CaliCapsFan on Apr 30, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Avery plays good hockey when he’s not being an obnoxious little brat. Besides, he was our best player for a game or two there. How much time did he spend in the box?

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 30, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“Avery plays good hockey when he’s not being an obnoxious little brat.”

I dunno, I think his play is pretty overrated by the media. I really think claiming he was the best player on the ice in game 7, even for the first two periods, is hype.

Bottom line: I would rather my daughters date a shriveled, demented, jewelry addicted, psychopathic hobbit than a scumbag like Avery. He does dress sharply though.

by CaliCapsFan on Apr 30, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he wasn’t the best in game he was certainly in the top 2. NY’s goal was a direct result of his hard work.

by Yoshietree on Apr 30, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you don't think he was the NYR best player in Game 7

..you’re either biased or just being churlish. Dude was everywhere and causing problems for our defense. On a few occasions he was even setting up behind our net like #99 did…that may say more about our defense than his play but he was a constant threat.

by DonnieKnutts on Apr 30, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Avery was like the stormtrooper who Tased Leia in the hallway when she was trying to run away in the original Star Wars:

It certainly was bad for the good guys, and we’re not really sure what happened off-screen right after that, but he wasn’t important enough to ever see or hear about again.

And they still kicked the Empire’s ass.

by Icebat on Apr 30, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Tuvan makes it sound like this guys asked all these questions. Tuvan, better check on that.

by ZenitPiter on Apr 30, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To this day I think the Caps would of won the Cup if Sergei did not score that goal…..

ok…maybe not…

by SA-Town on Apr 30, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Feds on Ovie

Right now, I’m sure he’s in the dressing room bouncing off the walls. I would try to stay as far away from his as possible, since he’s already laid me out on the ice once, and that’s enough

LOL Can ya blame him?

by RedskinFan4Life on Apr 30, 2009 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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