“Ovechkin puts money on the line when he takes on Gretzky’s record.” Dmitry Orlov – about the future of “Washington” and star partners

First of all, got acquainted with the teams that will play in Krasnoyarsk. We list all participants.

Alexander Semin’s team (red uniform): Anton Khudobin, Alexander Semin, Alexander Ovechkin, Viktor Kozlov, Dmitry Orlov, Alexey Makeev, Maxim Galanov, Arseniy Gritsyuk, Sergey Lomanov, Artem Shvets-Rogovoy, Andrey Nikolishin, Sergey Shipko, Denis Kulikov, Mark Gerich.

Pavel Datsyuk’s team (white kit): Alexander Sudnitsin, Pavel Datsyuk, Andrey Markov, Alexander Svitov, Alexander Guskov, Anton Burdasov, Maxim Afinogenov, Danis Zaripov, Alexander Suzdalev, Denis Kazansky, Alexei Popov, Ilya Skvortsov, Valentin Kopylov, Eduard Mayorov.

“Ovie Cooks Dinner for Everyone”

And I’m talking to Washington star goaltender Dmitry Orlov, whom I recently met at a 3×3 tournament sponsored by the FHR.

Do you play 3×3 at the Capitals? It’s called the “hockey of the future”.

Yes, especially when we had a bad start. We lost six overtimes in one fell swoop. This is how the season started. And we had a meeting for those who play 3×3. We talked about it, how we can improve. And after that, we won five extra times out of eight. In other words, they were able to change the situation.

We seem to be playing normally, we don’t make any mistakes. And failures happen, and we lack systematics. We agreed to act more as if we were playing in the minority. One leads the adversary, two meet him…

In general, there are different shades. And you have to communicate on the ice. Hockey is a team sport. Therefore, you should always analyze if you are a coach and want to win. We must bring the players to automation so that everyone knows what to do on the field.

– It is clear that everything “Washington” wants Alexander Ovechkin to catch and pass Wayne Gretzky in goal. But what does it look like? The coach comes into the locker room and says, “So today we all play for Ovechkin”?

– It happens rather intuitively. When you’re in the game, the adrenaline rushes and you’re focused. When there is an opportunity and Sasha is open – even without Gretzky’s record, everyone will pass her. Because the guys have understood: after his throw, the puck goes more often into the net.

Yes, now everyone thinks about the record, calculates the numbers. And we, as partners, want it to succeed. And that’s what the entire system in Washington wants, because he’s done a lot for the franchise to become the most popular player in town. Ovechkin came on when the Capitals hadn’t even made the playoffs. But everything changed with him, they won the Stanley Cup. It’s worth it if Sasha breaks Gretzky’s record. And this is especially important for those close to Ovechkin, who wholeheartedly support him.

– It’s true that when Ovechkin reaches a milestone – like 700 career goals – then Is the whole team going to dinner?

“There is such a thing. And there are team jokes when you put money on the line. And if you achieve an important event in your career, a dinner is organized with this money. It is therefore not usual to miss such things in the NHL. Everyone is sure to joke about it!

“The main hockey player in the history of the Forge is Bobrovsky”

– Alexander Radulov returns to Russian hockey by signing a contract with Ak Bars. Do you think it will burn?

– Everyone knows that Radulov is a hyperactive person. And he is an emblematic figure of our hockey. Especially when you see everything he has done for our sport. Sasha has always shown very good results in the KHL.

So I don’t think he will play badly. Yes, he was injured in Dallas, but there are always bad seasons. Moreover, Ak Bars is one of the best clubs in the KHL. It’s a great organization, always fighting for the Gagarin Cup. And it is a successful decision for all parties.

– Do you dream that the KHL will one day return to your native Novokuznetsk?

– Sure! After all, many guys from Novokuznetsk got into the NHL. There, we were given a path to hockey. We started there, studied at a sports school, spent whole days at the hockey rink. There is always a strong nostalgia when you come to Novokuznetsk, where you grew up and studied. There is always something to remember!

– And who is the main hockey player in the history of Metallurg?

– Let’s say Seryoga Bobrovsky. He wasn’t drafted, but he got into the NHL, became a trailblazer. Worth it that he came to Philadelphia and proved his worth. Yet two “Vezina Trophies” have been won by one person, becoming the best goaltender in the NHL.

I know how long he worked. I saw him every day. And it’s cool that there are people you can look up to. This is how a professional should be. If anyone wants to create idols for themselves, then look at Seryoga.

“We gave Florida this series ourselves”

– Did you communicate normally with Bobrovsky during the series of the first round “Florida” – “Washington”? After all, he beat you.

– We didn’t communicate. But before the series wishes each other good luck. And then you try to focus on hockey itself. Yes, and it is not customary to communicate in a fraternal way during the playoffs. After all, you had a long and tough season and then you started fighting for your survival. The new season begins, and there are no more friends here. You want to win the Stanley Cup. That’s why you play in the NHL. And that can only be done by one club among all.

– Is it possible to say that the Section window of “Washington” is already closed? Niklas Backstrom is seriously injured and could miss the entire season due to surgery. Health issues and other players. Has your train already left? Need to revamp your team?

– Most likely there will be changes in Washington this summer. Apparently the management wants to change something. We won the Stanley Cup in 2018, but after that we were knocked out in the first round four times in a row.

Whether these changes are for better or for worse, time will tell. Hockey players from “Washington” are now always hungry for victories. We have experience and everything else to gain.

But if you look at the round with Florida, we dropped that streak ourselves as we were up 2-1. We must learn from our mistakes. What Washington, in principle, has always tried to do. For a long time it didn’t work. But when we won the Cup, it was a good start for the city and the organization. Because the Capitals have been in the NHL for a long time.

This big series put pressure on everyone, especially when a big team came together, there were great players. Remember the same “Washington”, when Alexander Semin played there. And we couldn’t win…

But in the end, they made a breakthrough. I mean, I want to believe that we can shoot like that next season. You have to get the best form, show the best result. And the management will take care of the composition.

But Washington is the most fun team. Everyone in Russia talks about you every day.

– That’s for sure. We’re not bored !