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ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) #8212;Sure enough, two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin(notes) says hewas ticked off when he was left on the bench with the game on the line.He also says he understands why the coach did it. And that it could verywell happen again as part of the Washington Capitals #8217; season-long theme thatcalls for everyone to be more accountable.Ovechkin wasn #8217;t among the players coach bcs football rankings Bruce Boudreau sent onto the iceafter pulling the goalie with a one-goal deficit late in regulation Tuesdaynight against the Anaheim Ducks. Television cameras caught what appeared to be some unpleasant words fromOvechkin directed at the coach.But Boudreau #8217;s move worked. The Capitals tied the score, then won 5-4 inovertime. #8220;Well, I was (ticked) off, #8221; Ovechkin said Wednesday. bcs football rankings #8220;Of course I want tobe in that situation on the ice, and you know it doesn #8217;t matter who I said it(to) and what I said. It look funny on TV. It #8217;s right now a big story. It #8217;s justa little bit frustrating because I #8217;m a leader on the team and I want to be onthat kind of responsibility. #8221;Boudreau said he was #8220;playing a hunch #8221; by going with the third line bcs football rankings ofBrooks Laich(notes), Jason Chimera(notes) and Joel Ward(notes), supplemented by Nicklas Backstrom(notes).Laich, Chimera and Ward were playing very well; the threesome accounted forseven points on the night. #8220;Ninety-nine percent of the time Alex is the first guy I #8217;m looking at, #8221;Boudreau said, #8220;but these guys were going pretty good. #8221;But Boudreau hasn #8217;t been shy a bcs football rankings bout reducing ice time for top players in thisyoung season. The message: Play well or sit. #8220;It #8217;s the theme for the whole year. #8230; I hope the message has gotten clearfrom July `til now. I #8217;m hoping we don #8217;t change that message, #8221; Boudreau said. #8220;We #8217;re going to try to stay strong with it. That #8217;s what it is, and I thinkthat #8217;s the only way that we bcs football rankings #8217;re going to be successful. #8221;Boudreau says he didn #8217;t hear what Ovechkin said on the bench, but he #8217;sunderstands why his star player wouldn #8217;t be happy. #8220;All our players #8212;they #8217;re all competitive, #8221; Boudreau said. #8220;And, yeah, Idon #8217;t want them to be complacent and say, `Oh that #8217;s nice. #8221; #8217;Ovechkin said it #8217;s been a long bcs football rankings time since he #8217;s been left on the bench duringsuch a crucial moment in the game. #8220;When I was little kid, #8221; he said with a laugh. #8220;So I #8217;m right now back toyoung age again. So thanks, Bruce. #8221;Nevertheless, Ovechkin said Laich #8217;s line deserved to be on the ice afterhaving such a good game. Also, as the team captain, it #8217;s important that he buyinto the account bcs football rankings ability theme. #8220;Yeah, it #8217;s one team, #8221; said Ovechkin, who has five goals and five assiststhrough 10 games. #8220;It doesn #8217;t matter how good you are or who you are. If wewant to win, we have to be on the same page. #8221; Play Fantasy Hockey, now with Pro Leagues! And follow Yahoo! Sports' NHL coverage on Twitter. Updated 5 hours, 1 minute ago bcs football rankings
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