Photo: Julio Cortez
Over the last two days, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has become hockey’s version of a human piñata. The reason why the mainstream media has figuratively flogged Ovechkin with its bat full of angry pixels: Ovi gave up on a play that led to a Dallas Stars goal. It was already 3-0 and there were three defenders in the D-zone. Deal with it. Head coach Adam Oates didn’t help matters much on Wednesday when he said that Ovechkin “quit” on the play.
Since then, life as a Caps fan has been nothing short of depressing. On Friday, however, things got a bit back to normal in the first period.
After being reunited with Nicklas Backstrom for the first time since the mid-80’s, Ovechkin scored his first even strength goal… also since the mid-80’s.
That’s a pretty reserved celebration.
Ovechkin, who is playing like he’s really pissed, is now one goal away from his fifth career fifty goal season. Unfortunately, the Capitals look fated to miss the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
Ovechkin’s fantastic season: wasted.
Alex Ovechkin scores his first even-strength goal since Feb. 27, snapping a career-long 16-game drought.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) April 4, 2014
