This is the Jeff Merrick Show on the Sports Net Radio Network.

Welcome back to the program.

So that comes to the hour, Andrew Ferrence, we'll talk about the NHL's new ball hockey initiative.

You heard Greg Waczynski and I talking about this yesterday.

On the program, Andrew Ferrance, a big part of this and part of the momentum behind it

will join me coming up in hour too. In the meantime it is the

return of Alexander Ovechkin as the Washington capitals face off against the Anaheim

ducks. Washington losers of five in a row are watching their playoff hopes fade and fade. and me now one of my favorites all-around great guys cover this team for a number of

years you can read him in the athletic and he trains me now Tara Kory today sir

Hey Jeff how's it going I'm doing well.

Uh okay so first of all, before we get to the team itself and the future and the deadline and the GM and all of that, Alex Ovechkin returns to the lineup today.

It is the Washington Capitol is facing off against the Anaheim Ducks.

Missed a number of games in a number of days as well,

mourning the passing of his father he's returned this will

obviously give the Washington Capitol a shot in the arm I'm sure he's spoken

I haven't seen quotes yet what is what is Ovechkin said in advance of his

return tonight? He's ready to go. You know, we spoke to him yesterday and you

know he's still pretty emotional and the you know the emotions are still

pretty raw he was really close with his father you know I've covered Alex

since his rookie year and I remember those first few years I mean Michael Oveetchkin had his own keyfob to the locker room. Like he just, he would just walk on through, you know, say hi to the guys. Hey, anyone seen Alex? He would say that in really broken English. He was looking for Alex to catch a ride back home because he was living with.

Alex was living with his parents here in Washington. I mean, they were just very close.

And so he was really broken up. I mean, Michael had been sick for a number of years you

...