Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Va. ó Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau accused the media Thursday of blowing out of proportion the controversy over Alex Ovechkin’s 50th goal celebration and revealed he called Tampa Bay Lightning counterpart Rick Tocchet to talk about the superstar’s antics.
The Capitals host the Lightning on Friday, the first meeting between the clubs since Ovechkin hit the 50-goal milestone at Tampa on March 19. The NHL’s reigning MVP, whose on-ice exuberance had already been a source of debate around the league, took his act to a new level when he celebrated the goal by putting his stick on the ice and pretending it was too hot to touch.
After the game, Tocchet said Ovechkin “went down a notch in my books.” Players, coaches and pundits have since weighed in on whether premeditation celebrations have a place in the NHL. Growing tired of the subject, Boudreau erupted Thursday when asked about the possibility that the Lightning will seek retribution.
“You want to go there? It’s 10 days since it happened,” Boudreau said. “We have talked to Tampa’s coaches. We have said our speech. The people that are bringing this up are you guys. Nobody cares about it anymore. But you guys want to bring it up because you want to see a riot, then you want to talk about retribution. It’s the dumbest thing in the world. You’ve got to have better stuff to talk about.
“There should be no retribution at all. He scored his 50th goal in a 0-0 game. It wasn’t 8-0 where he made a mockery. It’s a done deal as far as I’m concerned, and that’s it.”
HIRED
EUGENE, Ore. ó Paul Westhead, who has won titles in the NBA and WNBA, was hired as the women’s head coach at Oregon on Thursday.
The 70-year-old Westhead replaces Bev Smith, who was let go last week after the Ducks went 9-21 last season.Westhead most recently was an assistant for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. .
“I was playing so poorly in my golf game, that I said, ‘I can’t keep doing this.’ So I said I have to get back to coaching,” Westhead joked when introduced in Eugene.
WRESTLING
IOWA CITY, Iowa ó Iowa wrestler Brent Metcalf has apologized for shoving North Carolina State’s Darrion Caldwell at the end of their 149-pound title match at the NCAA championships.
Metcalf says his momentum carried him into Caldwell’s celebratory back flip with 5 seconds left. Metcalf, who lost the match Saturday, says his actions were a result of self defense and partly frustration, adding that he had no malicious intent.
Replays, however, show Metcalf chasing Caldwell across the mat and pushing him in mid-air.
Iowa was assessed a one-point penalty for Metcalf’s actions, but went on to win its 22nd national title. Metcalf apologized on Thursday.
TENNIS
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. ó Andy Roddick’s slimmer and fitter. But better? That question might be answered at the Sony Ericsson Open, where the No. 5-seeded Roddick plays his opening match Friday night against Diego Junqueira of Argentina.
He’s off to the best start of his career with a 23-4 record, and he matched his best Australian Open showing when he reached the semifinals before losing to Roger Federer.
NFL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Veteran lineman Mike Goff has signed a free-agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
– NEW ORLEANS ó Free-agent safety Pierson Prioleau has agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints.