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The Washington Capitals, lead by Russians Alexander Ovechkin and Sergei Federov, head into the Stanley Cup playoffs after an improbable run that sent them from worst in the league to the number three seed in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Capitals will begin their campaign in the NHL's playoff for the Stanley Cup this week, lead by a quartet of Russian stars, young and old. The group is lead by Alexander Ovechkin, the top overall pick in the 2004 draft and this season's leading scorer. The 22 year-old Ovechkin finally gets his opportunity on hockey's biggest stage in his third NHL season as he and the Capitals begin their playoff push Friday night in Washington, DC against the Philadelphia Flyers. It will be the first playoff appearance for the Washington franchise since 2003 and Ovechkin knows it will be a hard-fought matchup. "It will be a tough game for both teams. I think this kind of game, it's two physical teams play against each other, so it will be first period no goal, more fight and more hits." But Ovechkin also knows he and the Capitals will have the support of fans from around the world to help them on their quest for the Stanley Cup. "Thousand people, my friends and friends of my friends, and everybody will be cheering, everybody will be screaming and drink beer, maybe, at 3am, and watch the game. Probably, yeah." It was a long road to get to this point for a Capitals team that began the year with a 6-14 record. Finding themselves at the bottom...