For the first time in a long time, it looks like Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is having fun again. That could be simply because he’s on fire on the ice with 10 goals in his last 12 games as he tries to will Washington to the Stanley Cup playoffs. But his teammates are seeing it, too. Ovechkin was named the NHL’s Third Star for the week ending Monday with six goals and an assist. He has scored seven goals in his last five games — a rampage as strong as anything he has put together since the team’s epic 14-game winning streak in January and February of 2010. During that stretch he registered 15 goals and 15 assists.
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“[Ovechkin’s] first goal the other night against Winnipeg when he went down and shot it through [defenseman Mark] Stuart’s legs, I just laughed all the way up the ice when it went in,” teammate Brooks Laich said. “It’s so nice to see. It’s something that people can’t do, and Ovi does it. And when he’s playing at that level, he’s got that special ability to elevate his game, and when he’s at that level, he’s fun to watch and play alongside. It’s incredible.”
There hasn’t been enough of that over the last two years, and Ovechkin still won’t come anywhere near his career-worst points total set last year (85). Right now he sits at 36 goals — tied for fourth in the NHL — but with center Nicklas Backstrom out with a concussion since Jan. 3, Ovechkin doesn’t have a reliable elite running mate. He has never totaled fewer than 46 assists in a season. This season he has just 25. But if he continues with this torrid finish and Washington makes the postseason, all will be forgiven. It’s what happens from here on out that truly matters to Ovechkin now.
He’s even playing both sides of the ice. His sliding block prevented a great scoring chance in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Minnesota. The Caps led just 1-0 at the time and were on the power play. A goal against there would have been a disaster. He later scored in his fifth game in a row.
– Brian McNally
