The Washington Capitals have inserted themselves back into the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture with a strong showing after the NHL’s All-Star break. Over the last month, the team has posted a 9-4-1 record, and the play of the team’s captain, Alex Ovechkin, has majorly helped spur that hot streak along.
Ovechkin is over a point-per-game player in his last 20 games, amassing 21 points (12g, 9a). His 12 goals from those games are three more than he scored in the previous 44 games combined. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery believes that the Caps moving back into the playoff conversation has reenergized his star winger.
“Post All-Star break, it’s almost like his engagement level [has risen] and he smells that these are the most important games of the year,” Carbery said Wednesday. “So, his competitiveness and what he’s doing inside of his game, his level of detail away from the puck, his leadership from a bench, locker room is almost more engaged, and trying to get guys to do the right things and make winning plays. You can tell he’s been through this a long time, 19 years now, and this time of the year is his time to shine and where he really, really wants to get his game at a high level but also the entire group’s as our captain.”
Ovechkin agrees with Carbery about the importance of the remaining weeks this season as the Capitals jockey back and forth with several teams both in the wild card and Metropolitan Division race. The legendary goal scorer has been quite up front about his desire to return to the playoffs after missing out last year.
“Every game is like a biggest game for us,” Ovechkin said. “You can see what happen right now in the standings. Sometime team wins, sometime team loses. We just have to push ourselves. It doesn’t matter how different teams gonna play, we just have to get points all the games.”
Ten of Ovechkin’s 23 power-play points this season, including six goals, have come in February and March. The team has at least one power-play goal in 10 of their last 12 games and in 13 of their last 16 games. After a dismal start to the season on the man advantage, the Capitals have the third-most effective power play in the NHL (31.2%) since the beginning of February.
Carbery believes the increase in production while up a man partially stems from what the team is doing differently with Ovechkin.
“Pucks are going in the net for him,” Carbery said. “He’s done a really nice job on the power play. We’ve integrated some changes with him moving around a little bit more frequently.”
While Ovechkin still scored from his usual power play Ovi Spot in the left faceoff circle against the Calgary Flames on Monday, he also potted another with a deft tip-in from right in front of the Flames’ net.
The two goals in Calgary moved him over the 20-goal hump this season, making Ovechkin the first player in NHL history to record 19 consecutive 20-goal seasons from the start of his career.
Tuesday, the Capitals jetted home from Alberta and will host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena on Wednesday night. They’ll look to jump back into postseason position again after being moved out via results from rivals on Tuesday night.
Ovechkin has tormented Toronto over his career, posting 75 points (42g, 33a) in 57 career games against them. The Great Eight is looking forward to another matchup and hopes Capitals fans bring their best at a pivotal juncture of the team’s schedule.
“It’s fun time,” Ovechkin said. “That’s why we practicing and that’s why we play hockey to get this atmosphere. I hope fans gonna support us, they’re gonna be loud tonight, and gonna push us forward.”
