Canucks Next Game: How will Alex Ovechkin be treated by fans?

Fans in Edmonton and Calgary have booed the great goal scorer and Russian superstar this week. Will Vancouver fans follow suit?

Alex Ovechkin will undoubtedly be treated well by teammates should he do what he does best — score goals — but for Rogers Arena fans, the Russian superstar’s past support of President Vladimir Putin will likely make him the major target of boo-birds. Photo by Brad Rempel /USA TODAY Sports files

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

31-18-10, 4th in Metropolitan Division

at VANCOUVER CANUCKS

29-23-6, 5th in Pacific Division

friday7 p.m., Rogers Arena.

TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650.

WHY WATCH

The Canucks’ hot pursuit of a playoff spot continues. They’re 8-2 in their last 10 games and find themselves three points out of a playoff spot, albeit having played two more games that the Dallas Stars, who currently sit in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Caps, on the other hand, are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and are sitting in the last playoff spot in the East, though they’re at no risk of missing the post-season as they are 13 points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets, the next closest team in the Eastern playoff race. These are two teams with playoff aspirations, with plenty to play for.

LEADER POINTS

CAPITAL

1. Alex Ovechkin GP 57 W 36 A 34 PTS 70 (+8)

2. Evgeny Kuznetsov GP 56 W 16 A 38 PTS 54 (+10)

3. John Carlson GP 55 W 10 A 37 PTS 47 (+11)

CANUCKS

1. JT Miller GP 56 W 23 A 44 PTS 67 (+7)

2. Quinn Hughes GP 52 W 4 A 41 PTS 45 (+9)

3. Elias Pettersson GP 56 W 18 A 23 PTS 41 (+1)

SPECIAL TEAMS

CAPITAL: PP 17.8% (26th) PK 80.9% (12th)

CANUCKS: PP 21.5% (15th) PK 70.9% (32nd)

THREE THINGS ABOUT THE CAPITALS

• booing: The Capitals just played on back-to-back nights in Edmonton and Calgary and Ovechkin, possibly the greatest goal scorer in NHL history, was booed relentlessly because of his past support for Russia President Vladimir Putin. A large portion of Alberta’s population has Ukrainian heritage and they let their feelings known about Putin’s attack on their ancestral homeland by chastising the NHL’s biggest Russian star. Oilers fans also had a hockey reason to boo him late in Wednesday night’s game as he got away with a blatant hook on Oilers winger Zach Hyman. The Capitals managed to tie the game not long after, though they still lost in overtime.

• Chasing a record: Meanwhile, Ovechkin continues to pile up goals. Even at the age of 36, he’s as prolific as ever. He’s currently tied with Jaromir Jagr for the third most regular season goals all-time with 766 goals. He trails only Gordie Howe (801) and Wayne Gretzky (894).

• Mr 1,000: Ovechkin’s long-time teammate and often-times centreman Nicklas Backstrom picked up his 1,000th career point on Wednesday in Edmonton, setting up TJ Oshie’s game-tying goal with less than a second left in the third period. Backstrom is the Capitals’ second all-time leading scorer, behind only you know who.

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