But Washington’s run over the last few months – mostly fueled by the offensive firepower of Ovechkin – was one of the most impressive stretches of the NHL season, clearly deserving of major accolades, and borderline in the same company as the winning streaks of the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins (earlier in the year).

Ovechkin went from being thrashed by peers and members of the media, to being a legitimate MVP contender (and perhaps a frontrunner for the Hart Trophy).

Take into account the following figures regarding Ovechkin’s season:

• Ovechkin’s month-by-month performance, meshed with that of his team, tells the story:
  • January: Ovechkin (7 games, 2 goals, 1 assist), Capitals (6 losses, 1 in OT)
  • February: Ovechkin (12 games, 6 goals, 6 assists), Capitals (6 losses)
  • March: Ovechkin (16 games, 10 goals, 9 assists), Capitals (7 losses, 1 in OT)
  • April: Ovechkin (13 games, 14 goals, 8 assists), Capitals (2 losses, 1 in OT)
• After a slow start, Ovechkin finished tied (with Sidney Crosby) for third in the NHL, with 56 points.
• Ovechkin led the league in goals, with 32.
• Washington led the NHL in Power Play percentage, and Ovechkin sparked the team, totaling 27 points with a man advantage (16 goals, 11 assists).
• One potential knock against him (as highlighted below in the Power Rankings): 6 of Ovechkin’s 32 goals – almost 19% of his season total – came against the lowly Panthers.

Washington’s run ended with a division title and the three seed in the Eastern Conference.  The Capitals – as low as 29^th in the early season Power Rankings – finished the regular season in the top five.  Also highlighted below – and entrenched in the final regular season NHL Power Rankings at TWHS – are Ovechkin’s final season goal tallies against opposing teams (as highlighted in RED).

Regarding the Power Rankings, the Chicago Blackhawks clinched the Presidents’ Trophy and was the obvious first place finisher.  The Pittsburgh Penguins landed in second place and the aforementioned Capitals finished in fifth, climbing ahead of the Bruins, after Boston lost to the Senators in the final game of the regular season.  The entire list is as follows:

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals enter the NHL Playoffs on a hot streak

KP’s NHL Power Rankings: End of 2012-2013 NHL Regular Season

1. Chicago Blackhawks (164 points)

2. Pittsburgh Penguins (142 points) – Ovechkin: 2 goals

Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks finished with the NHL’s best record

4. Montreal Canadiens (95 points) – Ovechkin: 3 goals

5. Washington Capitals (86 points)

6. Boston Bruins (83 points)

7. St. Louis Blues (80 points)

8. Los Angeles Kings (72 points)

9. New York Rangers (72 points) – Ovechkin: 1 goal

10. Toronto Maple Leafs (71 points) – Ovechkin: 2 goals

11. New York Islanders (67 points)

12. Vancouver Canucks (66 points)

13. Detroit Red Wings (66 points)

14. Ottawa Senators (58 points) – Ovechkin: 1 goal

15. San Jose Sharks (47 points)

16. Columbus Blue Jackets (45 points)

17. Minnesota Wild (37 points)

18. Phoenix Coyotes (25 points)

19. Winnipeg Jets (23 points) – Ovechkin: 4 goals

20. Philadelphia Flyers (22 points) – Ovechkin: 1 goal

21. Dallas Stars (19 points)

22. Buffalo Sabres (10 points) – Ovechkin: 3 goals

23. Edmonton Oilers (9 points)

24. New Jersey Devils (6 points) – Ovechkin: 3 goals

25. Tampa Bay Lightning (2 points) – Ovechkin: 3 goals

26. Carolina Hurricanes (-10 points) – Ovechkin: 3 goals

27. Calgary Flames (-15 points)

28. Nashville Predators (-34 points)

29. Colorado Avalanche (-41 points)

30. Florida Panthers (-62 points) – Ovechkin: 6 goals

* All stats per NHL.com and ESPN.com

The Wife Hates Sports’ NHL Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record.  It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system.  The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and defense.

Few would expect to fall victim of a prankster while waiting to get into the venue, but that’s exactly what happened at this year’s 2013 NFL Draft.

Football Nation’s Bill Enright pieced together this brilliant report outside of Radio City Music Hall, tossing out fictional names like Mike Hawke and Buster Highman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUfjngfcW1c

Highman had me laughing for a good five minutes, and even THE WIFE appreciated that one, so bravo, Bill.  By gaining her approval, you don’t realize just what you have accomplished.

THE WIFE was shocked that so many of these fans would act as if they know who these guys are, while never hearing their names before.  It just goes to show you that she doesn’t realize just how some guys are – specifically that 1) Many don’t know much about sports and 2) They don’t want to come off looking like an idiot, being unsure who a player is.  Instead, they go with the flow, and try to act educated on the subject matter.

Football Nation’s Bill Enright pranks a fan waiting to get into Radio City Music Hall for the 2013 NFL Draft

Instead, Enright ends up making them look like even bigger idiots.

Here’s hoping that Bill posts a video during the 2014 NFL Draft, when Haywood Jablowmee and William Board are set to enter the draft pool.

Big H/T out to my friends at Lost Letterman, who recently posted the video link on Twitter.

Also, an obvious H/T goes to Football Nation, who pieced together the classic video.  Check out their site, which has also been added to “The Wife Recommends” list.

That amount of sports noise leaves for plenty of tomato-worthy headlines.

So, as the sports world turns, the stories pile up and more fan frustration emerges.  But don’t sweat it, The Wife Hates Sports has them all covered – in lycopene, that is.

Throwing Tomatoes: April 26, 2013

Headliner: College Football’s Playoff

The BCS has a new name for its four-team college football playoff system, and it will be called…

<<DRUM ROLL>>

….IT WILL BE CALLED…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ian6NyXpszw

“College Football Playoff”.

COLLEGE.  FOOTBALL.  PLAYOFF.

“He worked really hard, Grandma…”

“So do washing machines.” – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

There’s not much else to say, but can we really be all that surprised from the artist formerly known as the BCS?

Target: The Luck of the Oklahoma City Thunder

This was a great chance for the Thunder to win an NBA title, but instead, news broke today that Russell Westbrook – one of the most durable players in the NBA – is out with a torn meniscus, more than likely ending his season.

Paging Kevin Durant, can you carry the load yourself?

Advantage: Spurs and Heat.

Target: LeBron James

The NBA’s elite players always bring unique fashion to the postgame press conferences, but LeBron James really “takes the cake” in recent weeks.

Take this sweater, which appears to be straight out of the “Cosby Show Collection”.

LeBron’s wild sweater may not even bring a smile to Bill Cosby’s face

It’s infrequent that we can make fun of LeBron’s game, but this is different.  If you actually were to throw a tomato at it, it’s quite likely that no one would even notice.

As I realized upon searching for the Bill Cosby image, I wasn’t the first to make the comparison (e.g. ‘The Big Lead’ did, for example).  So, throw one at me for being a few days late, and one ugly sweater reference short.

Innocent Bystander: Tyrann Mathieu

The former LSU Tiger originally planned to throw himself a “1^st Round Party” during the NFL Draft.  After the criticism poured out faster than a drink for Al Michaels (dang, that was cold), Mathieu later called the event off – and that’s probably a good thing, considering that the first round ended, and his name had yet to appear on the draft board.

That was his story, but perhaps, it was all because the draft wasn’t being held on 4/20.

Mathieu was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round, joining teammate Kevin Minter, who was selected one round earlier.   If Tyrann pans out, he would combine with Patrick Peterson to make one really nasty combo in the Arizona secondary.

Should we believe in him?  The “1^st round party” idea may just be a signal that he hasn’t learned much from his past mistakes, but only time will tell.

Innocent Bystander: Al Michaels

He’s one of the best of all-time.  How could you, Al?

We interrupt this post for something MORE appealing, but still covered in RED…

Supermodel Adriana Lima wears red better than you.

OK, so covered maybe isn’t an accurate description… 

Innocent Bystander: Adriana Lima

All she did was wear read.

Not-So-Innocent Onlooker: You

Don’t stare at that computer screen too long, it’s bad for your eyesight.

Target: Miami Marlins

Is it too early to start talking about the 1962 New York Mets and the record for baseball futility?

No… NO, it’s not.  Sure, the Astros are really bad, but these Marlins stink.

Miami is currently dead last in team record (5-17), runs scored (57), batting average (.220) and slugging percentage (.292).  The “Fish” are also 28^th in on-base percentage (.281), 27^th in ERA (4.48) and 27^th in WHIP (1.43).

Target: Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez bit off more than he could chew, eventually being served a much-deserved ten-match ban.

But, multiple biting incidents for this football star?  C’mon, Luis… even Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson think that’s cold.

Target: Ryan Lochte

The Olympic swimmer has his very own reality show, “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?” – and that’s really all that I can say about it.  I tried to watch this video and made it through about thirty seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZLqDHzWptI

If you made it through the whole video – and you’re not a WIFE that drools over him – then you’re a better man (or woman) than me.  Or perhaps, you’re not.

Here’s betting he stays on TV for about as long as Chevy Chase had a talk show.

Target: Matt Kenseth

If you look at the penalties handed down (by NASCAR) to Kenseth and his racing team, they are crippling.  The team needed to be more careful, whether the penalties are “grossly unfair” or not.

Target: Kobe Bryant and “Tweet-Gate”

The Sports Chump – a friend of TWHS – had this to say about Kobe and the tweets he sent out during the Lakers’ first game of the NBA Playoffs.

Personally, I like the fact that an NBA star was able to live tweet and provide the fans with “real talk” during his team’s playoff game.

Coach D’Antoni needs to breathe a little, but that’s probably tough when you’re sitting on a seat that should be as hot as the sun right now.

And finally, the current faces of team frustration in sports:

Toronto Blue Jays – Many felt the Jays were one of baseball’s most improved teams, but a 9-14 start has landed Toronto in the AL East cellar.

Florida Panthers – The Panthers have 34 points and will finish with the NHL’s worst record

Houston Astros – Houston’s 7-15 record and -37 run differential is the worst in the American League

This has been Throwing Tomatoes, where the red fruit never bites back.

The Boston Red Sox – after an emotional rollercoaster week due to the tragic events at the Boston Marathon – emerge in the top slot, followed by the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.

This week’s big winners are the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, each jumping eleven spots, while the big losers are the Oakland A’s, after falling nine slots and out of the top ten.

The entire list of MLB Power Rankings is as follows, featuring some specific team or player related statistics, along with the clubs that had positive or negative jumps in the latest poll:

Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester have each been outstanding for the Red Sox so far this season

KP’s MLB Power Rankings: April 23, 2013

Note: Statistics and point totals as of Tuesday morning (4/23/13) and do not include night games

1. Boston Red Sox (100 points) – Last Week: #6

Clay Buchholz (4-0, 0.90 ERA and 29 K’s in four starts) and Jon Lester (3-0, 1.73 ERA, 23 K’s in four starts) have each had an early season resurgence after struggling last year.

2. Texas Rangers (94 points) – Last Week: #11

Boston tops this week’s MLB Power Rankings

Yu Darvish leads the Rangers’ pitching staff in wins (3), ERA (2.03) and strikeouts (38).

3. Colorado Rockies (92 points) – Last Week: #10

The Rockies are getting it done offensively, and in a big way.  Colorado currently is third in MLB in runs (104), first in average (.282), second in OBP (.351) and first in slugging percentage (.482).

4. Atlanta Braves (87 points) – Last Week: #1

Bullpen arms Anthony Varvaro, Cory Gearrin and Craig Kimbrel have combined to throw 25 2/3 shutout innings, while giving up just 11 hits and striking out 24 batters.

5. Cincinnati Reds (82 points) – Last Week: #16

Cincinnati’s hitting and pitching combined rating landed as the highest mark in the National League for this week’s rankings.

6. Kansas City Royals (76 points) – Last Week: #8

If you’re one of those that questioned that Kansas City’s moves would make any difference, consider this: The Royals’ combined hitting/pitching rating in these rankings is higher than any other team.

7. San Francisco Giants (65 points) – Last Week: #4

More known for its pitching, the Giants are off to a solid start offensively, sparked by the play of Brandon Crawford (.303 avg.), Pablo Sandoval (.301) and Angel Pagan (.286).

8. St. Louis Cardinals (61 points) – Last Week: #3

In four starts this season, Adam Wainwright is 3-1, with a 2.48 ERA, 28 K’s and ZERO walks.

9. Baltimore Orioles (56 points) – Last Week: #14

It’s WAY too early to even whisper the word “Triple Crown”, but Chris Davis is second in the AL in average (.391), tied for first in home runs (7) and second in RBI (22).

10. New York Yankees (49 points) – Last Week: #12

Robinson Cano leads the team in five major categories: batting average (.333), home runs (6), RBI (14), on base percentage (.390) and hits (25).

11. Oakland Athletics (48 points) – Last Week: #2

In eight total starts, Brett Anderson and Jarrod Parker have combined to post a 1-6 record, while walking 21 batters over 37 2/3 innings.

12. Detroit Tigers (48 points) – Last Week: #7

In his first season with the Tigers, Torii Hunter is off to a torrid start, batting .392, with 29 hits over 74 at bats and a .438 on base percentage.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (46 points) – Last Week: #5

The Reds (182 K’s) are the only National League team to have more strikeouts than Arizona’s pitching staff (162 K’s in 19 games).

14. Pittsburgh Pirates (38 points) – Last Week: #17

Wandy Rodriguez (0.56 ERA) and A.J. Burnett (2.79 ERA) are two rotation arms off to solid starts.

15. New York Mets (36 points) – Last Week: #9

Matt Harvey (4-0, 0.93 ERA, 10 hits, 32 K’s in 29 innings) has been one of the biggest stories in the National League so far this season.

16. Milwaukee Brewers (33 points) – Last Week: #27

Jean Segura is batting .359 on the young season, but only five of his 23 hits have gone for extra bases (three doubles, one triple and one home run).

17. Minnesota Twins (22 points) – Last Week: #21

The Twins are pitching to contact, allowing just 37 walks this season, the fewest in baseball to date.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers (21 points) – Last Week: #13

Matt Kemp (.235 average, 0 HR, 6 RBI in 18 games) has had a far from inspirational start to the season.

19. Cleveland Indians (16 points) – Last Week: #20

A streaky player during his tenure in Baltimore, Mark Reynolds is off to a hot start in Cleveland, with 7 home runs (tied for league lead) and 18 RBI (4^th in AL).

20. Los Angeles Angels (15 points) – Last Week: #25

With a lineup that features Mark Trumbo, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, it’s shocking to see that no player in the Angels’ lineup has more than two home runs to this point.

21. Tampa Bay Rays (14 points) – Last Week: #28

Matt Moore is living up to the hype, posting a 4-0 record, while allowing just ten hits, with a 1.04 ERA and 29 strikeouts over a span of 26 innings.

22. Chicago White Sox (7 points) – Last Week: #19

Adam Dunn is struggling again, posting just a .101 average with 27 strikeouts in 69 at bats.

23. Philadelphia Phillies (7 points) – Last Week: #18

Cole Hamels has struggled for the Phillies this season

It’s only eight combined starts, but it’s very strange to see both Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay with an ERA above the 6.00 mark.

24. Washington Nationals (6 points) – Last Week: #15

One of the biggest issues with the Nats has been the team’s fielding, which has committed an MLB-high of 18 errors so far this season.

25. Chicago Cubs (-11 points) – Last Week: #24

The Cubs have seen promising starts to the season from starters Carlos Villanueva, Travis Wood and Jeff Samardzija (each has an ERA under 3.40).

26. Toronto Blue Jays (-16 points) – Last Week: #23

With Jose Reyes on the DL, no healthy member of the Blue Jays is currently batting over .275.

27. Seattle Mariners (-20 points) – Last Week: #22

The Mariners spent the offseason trying to add pieces to its offense, but Seattle’s .224 team average is currently the worst in the American League.

28. San Diego Padres (-25 points) – Last Week: #29

Starters Tyson Ross, Jason Marquis and Edinson Volquez have combined to walk 30 batters over a span of 55 2/3 innings.

29. Houston Astros (-30 points) – Last Week: #26

The Houston pitching staff has just four quality starts over its first 19 games, which is the fewest in Major League Baseball.

30. Miami Marlins (-48 points) – Last Week: #30

Miami’s .212 team batting average is not only the worst in baseball, but it’s also twelve points lower than any other team.  The Marlins also have 6 home runs in 19 games, by far the fewest in the league.

* All stats per MLB.com

Note: RED = Falling 3+ spots from last week, GREEN = Rising 3+ spots from last week

The Wife Hates Sports’ MLB Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record.  It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system.  The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and pitching staff, too.