Shoutbox » is ready to go and you just want to enjoy the sport.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin apologized for Russias hockey performance at the Olympics, a sentiment put in perspective by the encouraging news that his father was on the way home after heart surgery. Far more upset was Nicklas Backstrom, who remains clearly miffed that an allergy medication hes taken for years cost him a chance to play for a gold medal. The Washington Capitals held their first post-Olympics practice Tuesday, a session overshadowed by residue from the Winter Games even as they tried to focus on the resumption of their NHL schedule. Ovechkin was one of the faces of Sochi, bent on winning the gold on home ice. Instead, the Russians were eliminated in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive Olympics. "First of all, I want to say sorry to the fans," Ovechkin said. "Because its once in a lifetime opportunity to represent your country in the Olympics, and you didnt get the results, you didnt get any medal. Of course the fans, the media and the people who support Russia, family, was upset, but life goes on." Ovechkin took the Olympic disappointment especially hard four years ago, but this time he had to immediately turn his attention to his family. His father, who has a history of heart problems, became ill following one of his sons games and required surgery. Ovechkin wasnt told until three days later, after Russia had been eliminated. "Soon as I found out that hes in hospital and hes feeling not that good and he could be dying, I just forget the game that we lose against Finland. ... Just go there and spend time with him and saw him," Ovechkin said. "It was great feelings to see whats happening and how hes feeling. Thats most important thing." Ovechkin said his father, mother and brother were flying home to Moscow on Tuesday. Ovechkin said he understands the criticism he received for his play during the Olympics -- "I didnt score lots of goals out there" -- but the 28-year-old three-time league MVP appears ready to refocus on the Capitals, who resume play Thursday at Florida. "This is a very tough loss for me and for Russia, but Im almost 30," Ovechkin said. "I have to handle it. I have to fight through it." The lingering Olympic sting was more evident on the face of Backstrom, who helped lead Sweden to the gold medal game but was pulled from the lineup shortly before faceoff because he had failed a doping test. Without one of its top players, Sweden lost 3-0 to Canada. "Ive had allergies for seven years, since I got here," Backstrom said. "Everyone that lives in the Washington area knows how bad it is here. Ive been taking Zyrtec-D for the last seven years and I havent been doing anything differently. Ive been playing internationally, in the world championships (and) Olympics before, and so I havent done anything differently." An ingredient in the allergy medicine is on the list of banned substances for Olympic competition, but Backstrom said he was told by the Sweden team doctor that he could take one pill a day without triggering a positive test. "Who do I blame?" Backstrom said. "Well, I followed the doctors recommendation." Backstrom said he expects a two-week wait to find out whether he will be awarded his silver medal, which is being held at the International Ice Hockey Federation offices in Zurich. "Obviously, its not fun to deal with," Backstrom said. "I dont wish no one to have to go through this, if Im going to be honest with you. Its not fun. But Ive got to look forward to play next game on Thursday. Ive got to focus on Washington right now." Backstroms teammates, much like the international hockey community in general, were shocked at how his situation was handled. "Its just ridiculous that it can happen at a big tournament like this," forward Martin Erat said, "at the Olympics just before the finals when everybody is ready to go and you just want to enjoy the sport. It just happened because of some stupidity, and its just unbelievable that this can happen in the Olympics." The Capitals sent five players to Sochi, and four of them have dealt with some sort of unexpected life event that has derailed an attempt to return to normalcy after the Olympics. Ovechkin had the health scare with his father, Backstrom has the fallout from the doping test, Swedish forward Marcus Johansson is stuck in Stockholm because of an visa issue -- the Capitals expect him to join them in Florida for Thursdays game -- and Erat returned to his family in Nashville, Tenn., as soon as he could after the Czech Republic was eliminated. "We just finished our quarterfinal game, and I went for my phone, and our friend had called me and said your baby girl, Victoria Bella, is born," Erat said. "First we lost in the quarterfinal, it was hard to swallow, and when I got the news, it brought back a smile on my face." Saucony Outlet Store .com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings. Cheap Saucony Shoes Online . -- Jacksonvilles offensive makeover is just getting starting. http://www.cheapsaucony.net/.C. - The Panthers will be without starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for Saturday nights NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his foot. Cheap Saucony . - Jesse Shynkaruk scored a hat trick as the Moose Jaw Warriors snapped a seven-game losing streak with an 8-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders in Western Hockey League action on Saturday. Wholesale Saucony Shoes . LOUIS -- The St.Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - The New England Revolution can book a return to the postseason on Saturday with a win over the last-place Montreal Impact at Saputo Stadium. The Revs are in great form at the moment having won seven of their last eight games to climb to second place in the Eastern Conference, four points back of leaders D.C. United. Montreal, meanwhile, is just about assured of finishing on the bottom of the table in the East with one win from its last six games. New England took a big step toward reaching the playoffs for a second straight year last weekend with a gritty 2-1 win over fellow playoff contender Columbus. Lee Nguyen continued his fantastic campaign with a goal in the 20th minute to put the Revs in front, only for the Crew to answer back through Ethan Finlay five minutes later. Jermaine Jones scored the winning goal in the 67th, while goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth turned in a great performance with six saves to preserve the victory. It wasnt the most eye-catching outing of the season for New England, but Shuttleworth was quick to point out how that type of win at this late stage in the season says a lot about the team. Thats what this time of the year is all about, Shutttleworth said after the win over the Crew.dddddddddddd Were 30-something games in now. Its all about grinding results out like that. I think were the type of team where if were grinding, we can play when were on, but if were grinding out results like that I think teams are going to have trouble with us. Saturdays match is the third and final meeting between the two sides this season, with each having claimed a win. The Revs will certainly be favored to walk away with three points, and if they can, it would be a big step toward finishing in the top two in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2007. Montreal will attempt to slow New Englands momentum, but at this point, the Impact is simply playing for pride. After losing eight straight away games, Montreal managed to earn a 0-0 draw at Chicago last time out, which will at least have the team feeling a bit more positive heading into what figures to be a tough matchup. Its not the style of play that we prefer, but sometimes you have to grind out results in this league, said Montreal defender Heath Pearce after the 0-0 draw with the Fire. I thought we competed well in the second half. We scrapped it out and when you compete, you get a result. ' ' '