Alex Ovechkin scored the 696th, 697th, and 698th goals of his career last Tuesday after scoring a natural hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings. With two more goals, he would become only the eighth NHL player ever to join the 700 Club.
Since then, the Capitals have struggled mightily, giving up 12 goals in two games. Ovechkin has gone goalless as media attention has intensified. NBC Sports picked up the Caps-Isles game and will air Thursday’s Caps-Avs game on national TV as the Russian machine continues his chase for 700.
Wednesday, before the Capitals got on the plane to Denver, Ovechkin was asked if being on the road would alleviate the pressure.
Here was his response.
Video
You know who’s done talking about the pursuit of goal No. 700? Alex Ovechkin. That’s who. #Caps pic.twitter.com/YjHqE5AspN
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) February 12, 2020
“Whatever,” Ovechkin said.
It appears he is done talking about it.
Over his last two games, Ovechkin has fired only eight shots on net. He was on the ice for all five goals the Islanders scored on Monday.
“We watch the video. We know our mistakes. We’re going to be fine,” Ovechkin said.
The two-game goalless streak, by the way, is the first time since the Capitals’ games on January 8 and 11 that Ovi’s been shutout in consecutive outings. Before that, Ovechkin had scored 14 goals in seven games.
Headline photo courtesy of @Capitals
