Perspective | Alex Ovechkin looks ‘a little bit off,’ and it’s a big problem for the Caps
April 24, 2024
Perspective | Alex Ovechkin looks ‘a little bit off,’ and it’s a big problem for the Caps
10 comments
Perspective by Barry Svrluga
NEW YORK — This entire series for the Washington Capitals — this absolute slog up an incline as steep as the Empire State Building — is not at the feet of Alex Ovechkin. Yet here, in the second period of a game in which the Caps were somehow still competing, came the puck to Ovechkin’s feet as he stood along the boards at his own blue line, the cacophony of Madison Square Garden all around him.
“It was kind of a weird bounce,” Ovechkin said later Tuesday night.
The Capitals were on the power play, looking for the equalizer in Game 2 of this first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers. Instead, Mika Zibanejad wrestled the puck away. Here came the Rangers, burying a chance they had no business having.
“Lucky bounce,” Ovechkin said. “You know, I have to play safer. And you know — especially in that moment.”
Safe has never been Ovechkin’s style. But K’Andre Miller’s ensuing shorthanded goal provided the difference [in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/23/rangers-capitals-stanley-cup-playoffs-game-2/?itid=lk_inline_manual_9) that put them up two games, and it served as a reminder of so many of the keys to this series, if it’s indeed to become a series. The Rangers have the skill and tenacity to make you pay for even the slightest mistake. And for the Capitals to have a chance to claw back against the NHL’s best regular season team, Ovechkin has to be at his best — not the version who showed up in the World’s Most Famous Arena, a stage he relishes, and looked vastly unlike the player who scored 23 goals in the final 36 games of the season.
I think Carbs has to get a little creative with the line combos. Rangers are defending Ovechkin well, but if he can get going, that would obviously be an added bonus for this team.
he’s been off a while in the playoffs now. I remember when he took the last few games off and sat in the press box. came back and didn’t look like himself.
The turnover that led to the Miller goal came off a bad pass to Ovechkin.
Edit: I haven’t seen the replay but I recall a bad pass or a bounce
Am I the only one not panicking about Ovechkin, because it’s only 2 games he hasn’t scored in?
He’s had some good games, and some good moments, but he’s not 100%. He isn’t even 100% of the 38 year old version of himself. If he’s got a hidden injury, I hope he gets that addressed and rebuilt in the off season. If it’s mental, I hope he deals with that. No shame in any of that, being a professional athlete at that level for that long takes a toll. Just life takes a toll too, he is dealing with aging, his father died, he is watching his friends and teammates age out of the sport, it’s not easy. If he were not chasing the all time goal scoring record it might be easier, but right now, he doesn’t have the option to retire until he hits that mark, or at least it doesn’t feel like he has the option. It is so close. It’s one very good season, maybe unrealistically good, but it’s certainly possible with two seasons. He just has to get there without being a liability in terms of wins, and in terms of team development.
Part of what has made him such a monster is that he has gone so long without significant injury. He just keeps going and going and that’s incredible. He really needs the summer right now, it shows. I want him to be able to play at a high level, I want him to have success, and then I want him to step down before it gets embarrassing. Far too many of the great players held on past their prime and ended their careers on a sour note. I hope he isn’t one of those. It would suck to have a losing season where the only consolation is him hitting the record at the expense of his teammates.
On the one hand, it’s only two games, with several good games right before these two, but it’s been a few games here and a few games there all season. He’s the captain, he is the heart of the team, and his play defines the team each game, each period. We need him. I hope he gets help. At the same time, I am looking forward to the post ovechkin capitals. I see Wilson being our next leader, but not for too long, and I wonder who will come after that.
Anyone remember this gif? I’ve seen a lot of this happening during the first two games of the season. I understand Ovi is not on the ice for his defense but he has been a liability anywhere but the final third of the ice so far. He has had a few big hits, but overall I would have liked to see more energy to show the way for the young guys.
call out ovi sure light that fire. but the caps or ovi didn’t really have a season that should lead to this level of analyzing a single player.
He hasn’t looked great for a few games prior to the playoffs as well. I think if he did in fact have a (rumrored) back/neck injury that healed a bit around the all star break, he has certainly aggravated it.
Is there enough time to fly him out to Dubai and get him on a camel again?
10 comments
Perspective by Barry Svrluga
NEW YORK — This entire series for the Washington Capitals — this absolute slog up an incline as steep as the Empire State Building — is not at the feet of Alex Ovechkin. Yet here, in the second period of a game in which the Caps were somehow still competing, came the puck to Ovechkin’s feet as he stood along the boards at his own blue line, the cacophony of Madison Square Garden all around him.
“It was kind of a weird bounce,” Ovechkin said later Tuesday night.
The Capitals were on the power play, looking for the equalizer in Game 2 of this first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers. Instead, Mika Zibanejad wrestled the puck away. Here came the Rangers, burying a chance they had no business having.
“Lucky bounce,” Ovechkin said. “You know, I have to play safer. And you know — especially in that moment.”
Safe has never been Ovechkin’s style. But K’Andre Miller’s ensuing shorthanded goal provided the difference [in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/23/rangers-capitals-stanley-cup-playoffs-game-2/?itid=lk_inline_manual_9) that put them up two games, and it served as a reminder of so many of the keys to this series, if it’s indeed to become a series. The Rangers have the skill and tenacity to make you pay for even the slightest mistake. And for the Capitals to have a chance to claw back against the NHL’s best regular season team, Ovechkin has to be at his best — not the version who showed up in the World’s Most Famous Arena, a stage he relishes, and looked vastly unlike the player who scored 23 goals in the final 36 games of the season.
Actually, it’s more than that.
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/24/alex-ovechkin-capitals-rangers-playoffs/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/24/alex-ovechkin-capitals-rangers-playoffs/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
I think Carbs has to get a little creative with the line combos. Rangers are defending Ovechkin well, but if he can get going, that would obviously be an added bonus for this team.
he’s been off a while in the playoffs now. I remember when he took the last few games off and sat in the press box. came back and didn’t look like himself.
The turnover that led to the Miller goal came off a bad pass to Ovechkin.
Edit: I haven’t seen the replay but I recall a bad pass or a bounce
Am I the only one not panicking about Ovechkin, because it’s only 2 games he hasn’t scored in?
He’s had some good games, and some good moments, but he’s not 100%. He isn’t even 100% of the 38 year old version of himself. If he’s got a hidden injury, I hope he gets that addressed and rebuilt in the off season. If it’s mental, I hope he deals with that. No shame in any of that, being a professional athlete at that level for that long takes a toll. Just life takes a toll too, he is dealing with aging, his father died, he is watching his friends and teammates age out of the sport, it’s not easy. If he were not chasing the all time goal scoring record it might be easier, but right now, he doesn’t have the option to retire until he hits that mark, or at least it doesn’t feel like he has the option. It is so close. It’s one very good season, maybe unrealistically good, but it’s certainly possible with two seasons. He just has to get there without being a liability in terms of wins, and in terms of team development.
Part of what has made him such a monster is that he has gone so long without significant injury. He just keeps going and going and that’s incredible. He really needs the summer right now, it shows. I want him to be able to play at a high level, I want him to have success, and then I want him to step down before it gets embarrassing. Far too many of the great players held on past their prime and ended their careers on a sour note. I hope he isn’t one of those. It would suck to have a losing season where the only consolation is him hitting the record at the expense of his teammates.
On the one hand, it’s only two games, with several good games right before these two, but it’s been a few games here and a few games there all season. He’s the captain, he is the heart of the team, and his play defines the team each game, each period. We need him. I hope he gets help. At the same time, I am looking forward to the post ovechkin capitals. I see Wilson being our next leader, but not for too long, and I wonder who will come after that.
Anyone remember this gif? I’ve seen a lot of this happening during the first two games of the season. I understand Ovi is not on the ice for his defense but he has been a liability anywhere but the final third of the ice so far. He has had a few big hits, but overall I would have liked to see more energy to show the way for the young guys.
[https://www.crossingbroad.com/2013/05/this-alex-ovechkin-gif-wins-today.html](https://www.crossingbroad.com/2013/05/this-alex-ovechkin-gif-wins-today.html)
call out ovi sure light that fire. but the caps or ovi didn’t really have a season that should lead to this level of analyzing a single player.
He hasn’t looked great for a few games prior to the playoffs as well. I think if he did in fact have a (rumrored) back/neck injury that healed a bit around the all star break, he has certainly aggravated it.
Is there enough time to fly him out to Dubai and get him on a camel again?