EuroVision: Highlights, notes, tweets and photos from across the pond – where the lockout doesn’t quite translate
For those of you who haven’t heard, this NHL duo will be reunited with Dynamo Moscow. twitter.com/KHL_hockey/sta…
— KHL_Hockey (@KHL_hockey) October 19, 2012
Most were cautiously optimistic that the National Hockey League’s new proposal Tuesday would at least spark some encouraging negotiations.
But one player was willing to bet all-in against it.
As Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr were giving their “I’m disappointed” doomsday press conferences in Toronto late Thursday afternoon, star forward Nicklas Backstrom was catching an international flight out of Washington.
Backstrom’s flying out from Dulles at 5pm. “I want to play hockey, and this will be a fun challenge,” he told Svt’s @stefanasberg #caps
— Linus Hugosson (@linushugosson) October 18, 2012
Backstrom has signed with Dynamo Moscow, a KHL power led by his ol’ Capitals linemate Alex Ovechkin. The question now is this: Who makes the cutest European couple? Ovie/Backstrom, Malkin/Gonchar, or Nash/Thornton?
While diehard Caps fans might want to consider Christmas in Eastern Europe, rumours that Braden Holtby’s mom was seen waving a giant “Dynamo #1” foam finger are unsubstantiated.
The Dallas Stars’ big off-season signing suffered a blow Thursday:
Jaromir Jagr was injured in today’s Kladno game, 3-2 loss to Karlovy Vary. He left after 12 minutes. No further info. Anyone in Czech?
— Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) October 18, 2012
Jagr, who missed nine games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers due to groin injuries, told Czech media that he left before the first period ended to err on the side of caution. He said he wants to play Tuesday.
Jagr: “i dont wanna talk about my injury. I will go to see a doctor and then i let you know what is it.”
— Roman Jedlicka (@jedli) October 18, 2012
In 11 games with Kladno, the team he owns, Jagr has four goals and nine assists.
Another Western Conference NHL winger injured this week? The Detroit Red Wings’ Cory Emmerton, who fractured his finger in his debut for SaiPa Lappeenranta (SM-liiga):
Cory Emmerton flying back to America on Saturday after suffering a broken finger in debut. Could still return to Finland later. #RedWings
— Matias Strozyk (@MaStrozyk) October 19, 2012
On a brighter note, SKA captain Ilya Kovalchuk is still awesome.
With St. Petersburg’s 2-0 shutout over Sibir on Thursday, Kovy’s team moved into first place overall, leapfrogging idle Dynamo Moscow.
Here’s Kovlachuk’s latest red light:
Rumours that defenceman Andrei Markov carries his luggage on his motorcycle can be confirmed:
Andrei Markov in Chekhov. #habs twitter.com/plysenkov/stat…
— Pavel Lysenkov (@plysenkov) October 19, 2012
Carolina Hurricanes off-season acquisition Alex Semin, up from a second-tier Russian league, is set to make his KHL debut Friday:
Alex Semin is in the Torpedo lineup for today’s game vs Avtomobilist. Let the enigmatics begin! #KHL #Caps #Canes
— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) October 19, 2012
Unless the NHL season is cancelled outright, word out of Montreal is that Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty is unlikely to return to Switzerland.
And Logan Couture, who is healthy in Switzerland, has found a way to stay awake to watch HBO and AMC series while away from American cable:
After spending a month in Europe an Espresso machine is a must when I get to North America. So addicting, what do they put in this stuff hah
— Logan Couture (@Logancouture) October 18, 2012