At the same time, security concerns about the 2014 Games are very real; several NHL Olympians are erring on the side of caution and not bringing their families to Sochi, and the NHL has at least a contingency plan in case something truly horrific happens in the next week. We put together a primer on the concerns last week.

With that in mind, Ovechkin said on Tuesday that he's got faith in the process. Joe Yerdon quoted Ovechkin on Twitter as saying, "I don't think the government or president wants to risk the reputation of Russia to be damaged by some idiots who want to do this."

That's in line with what Ovechkin said earlier this month on the Today show; that he believed that president Vladimir Putin's efforts to make the Games safe would be be successful.

"I'm sure everything is gonna be fine, and everybody is gonna be healthy, and everybody is gonna have a good time," he said.

The security force in Russia will be about 60,000 strong, with several sets of checkpoints along the perimeter of the Sochi region.


VANEK TO CAPTAIN AUSTRIA


New York Islanders forward Thomas Vanek has been named the captain of the Austrian Olympic hockey team for the Sochi Games.

According to the report from Pro Hockey Talk, which cites Vanek’s website, he will replace current captain Thomas Koch, who will be one of the two assistant captains along with Matthias Trattnig. Koch and Trattnig both apply their trade in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League with Klagenfurter AC and EC Red Bull Salzburg, respectively. Vanek was an assistant captain at the 2013 World Championships.

The decision is not surprising. Vanek is the team’s best player, on a squad that features few NHL weapons (the others being Michael Grabner and Michael Raffl). Austria’s coach Manny Viveiros essentially said as much- as quoted from Vanek’s website: “Vanek is a star player for us and also in the NHL, that’s enough to make him captain. He is a role-model for all young players in Austria.”

As for Koch? He was quoted on Vanek’s site as well: “I am captain of the KAC, Thomas was captain in Buffalo, that’s a level above me and no problem for us.”

“Was” of course, since Vanek was traded to the Islanders earlier this season, but the logic, is sound.

Overall, it’s unlikely to make much of a difference for Austria as they face a difficult road out of the first round. They are in Group B, which also features Canada, Finland and Norway where only the top two teams qualify for the second round. Still, it's a huge honor for Vanek, likely made even sweeter by the fact this is Austria hockey’s first appearance in the Olympics since a 12th place finish at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.


 


CLUTTERBUCK'S EYE BLACK


Cal Clutterbuck's face-painting method at the New York Islanders' Yankee Stadium practice on Tuesday was, uh ... a little more extensive than Paul Ranger's at the Winter Classic.

The Isles' Stadium Series game is on Wednesday night, away from the hateful sun, so there is no reason for Clutterbuck to do that again. Ever. Never. Cool hat, though!


KANE OUT UNTIL AFTER OLYMPICS 


Evander Kane probably shouldn't fight — we've been over this before.

Based on the latest developments in the hand injury he picked up during a scrap, he *really* shouldn't fight. The Winnipeg Jets winger posted an ugly photo of his hand to his Instagram. (It's private, so here's the twitter photo.)

Yikes. Kane is out until after the Olympic break because of an infected cut on his knuckle. He originally injured himself on Jan. 7, then returned for four games and totaled a goal and three assists before the infection flared up.

“He’s going to be taken care of this afternoon, but he will not play prior to the Olympic break,” coach Paul Maurice said on Tuesday. “I don’t know what more that it is they’re going to do. You do it, and then you just pray that it gets taken care of, because there’s nothing you can do about it.

“It’s a real unfortunate setback for him and for our team. I liked the way he was coming and going, and we’re going to miss him."


STAMKOS MAKES PROGRESS


On January 25, Steven Stamkos wore a yellow jersey to practice. Tuesday morning, he ditched that for the Lightning's morning skate before their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a day after skipping practice because his surgically repaired leg "didn't feel right." The color change is important; Stamkos' yellow jersey signified that he could only take light contact. 

After he worked out, he told reporters that his leg was feeling "a lot better," and added that it was a possibility that he'd play for Team Canada in Sochi before playing for the Lightning, but added that he'd have to talk to Tampa/Canada general manager Steve Yzerman about it.

Stamkos broke his leg on Nov. 11; a 3-6 month recovery was expected, so he's ahead of even the most optimistic initial projections.


MILLER SHOWS OFF OLYMPIC MASK


Ryan Miller's mask for the Olympics? /starts whistling "The Star-Spangled Banner" //sets off fireworks ///cries beautiful tears of freedom.

Contributors: Sean Gentille, Ben Valentine