ent opponents with different looks and create more offensive changes.He emphasized the need to have Ovechkin generate more touches -- a per-game statistic the coaching staff would monitor throughout the season -- with the hope that if Ovechkin touched the puck more often -- and in different areas on the ice -- he would be in better position to score different types of goals."Sometimes you need some luck to put it in," Ovechkin said. "Of course,Authentic Henrik Sedin Jersey, you have to find a way to find this luck. It can't be luck all the time. Sometimes you have to score maybe not a typical goal but maybe you have to go to the middle of the ice and in front of the net and find the rebound and maybe tip the puck. Those kinds of goals I have this year too."Oates said, "There have been a lot of naysayers recently. So, in that sense,Jonathan Quick Authentic Jersey, I think everybody's very happy for him. He's been very professional about it,Henrik Zetterberg Authentic Jersey, personally. I think what he's done this year has been fantastic for this organization and hasn't probably got enough credit for that, for actually being unselfish and willing to make a change."The decision to switch Ovechkin's position, which wasn't without a few initial hiccups, may go down among the most impactful coaching moves of the 2012-13 season. Not bad considering it almost backfired."The first couple of games," Ovechkin explained, "I [told] him, 'OK, Oatesey let's put me back on the left side.' And he put me back [for four games] and after that we watched the video and he tells me and he shows me the video and I started to believe in it and so I said,Tim Thomas Authentic Jersey, 'OK, just put me on the right side and let's don't talk about it anymore.' So we didn't talk about it anymore since and we just look at the video and look at my highlights and talk about my game."After scoring twice in the first 10 games of the season and nine times in the first 25, Ovechkin took off with 23 goals in his final 23 games. It should come as no surprise that the Capitals improved as a team during that stretch, going 17-4-2 to erase a 10-point Southeast Division deficit."I'm happy for him," said Oates, brushing aside any praise directed his way for Ovechkin's turnaround."One of the reasons I think he should win the Hart is because of his unselfishness to change positions for the club. That he was willing to listen to a coaching staff and switch ... I'm glad for him, he's had success and he's helped our team grow."McPhee said, "It says a lot about Alex. You've got a two-time MVP and everything else, but if your top guys aren't coachable, you'd have no chance of having any kind of success. He bought in."
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Justin Williams scored in the third period, Jonathan Quick made 23 saves, and the Los Angeles Kings finished in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.Slava Voynov and Kyle Clifford also scored for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, who entered the regular-season finale in a fifth-place tie with the Sharks.The Ki