Hopefully Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis has an all-access pass to the Olympic hockey rinks in Vancouver.  He's going to need it if he wants to keep tabs on his prized Caps players when the Winter Games begin.

The Capitals will be well-represented in Vancouver, and it all begins with the game's best goal-scorer, Alex Ovechkin.

Ovie has turned D.C. into a hockey town, and there is no doubt he wants to show off his flashy skills in the international spotlight.

Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin will lead Team Russia in its quest for another gold medal to add to the country's collection.  And with Ovechkin manning the left wing on the top line, there's a good chance of that happening.

Team Russia failed to medal in 2006, but that was no reflection on Ovechkin's play.  He scored five goals in eight games, and even recorded the game-winning goal against Team Canada's Martin Brodeur.

This time around Ovie will be less star-struck by his surroundings in the Olympic Village and should be able to do even more on the ice -- if that's even possible.

He's going to have some help from his Caps' teammates.  Alex Semin wasn't a member of the 2006 team, but proved to be a clutch international player in 2008 when he led Team Russia to a gold medal in the World Championships.  He scored six goals and added seven assists in nine games.  Yep, that's one more point than Ovechkin scored in the tourney.  So Semin knows a thing or two about scoring big goals in big games.

Ovechkin and Semin usually play on a line together in Washington with center Nicklas Backstrom.  Unfortunately for them, Backstrom isn't Russian, so they'll have to find a new centerman in Vancouver.

Backstrom, meanwhile, will be counted upon to anchor a top line for Team Sweden, the defending gold medal winners.  Backstrom wasn't a part of that team, but he has plenty of international competition.  It will be interesting to see how he does on the biggest international stage of them all.

The Capitals' main threat on defense, Mike Green, will be a big cog in the medal machine known as Team Canada.  His flair for the offensive and his smooth skating will be keys for the Canadians' transition game and power play.

Green's shots from the point may end up flying toward a teammate in net -- Semyon Varlamov.  The Caps' young netminder has a shot to make it onto the Team Russia roster, but several more experienced goalies stand in his way of starting games.  Strong NHL play leading up to the NHL Olympic Break will help his chances of seeing playing time in Vancouver.

Other Capitals who could see Olympic action include Tomas Fleischmann for Team Czech Republic, Michael Nylander for Team Sweden and Milan Jurchina for Team Slovakia.

So while Caps fans will have to deal with a lull in NHL action during the Olympics, they'll still be able to cheer on their favorite players in Vancouver.