Alex Ovechkin has been a slow starter somewhat when it comes to scoring goals over the last few years. This season, Caps fans have been more nervous than usual about how frequently the 31-year-old Caps captain has been lighting the lamp. Is this the year Ovechkin’s age finally catches up to him?
Over the last three seasons — including this current one — Ovechkin has been at the 14-goal mark at the same time: 29 games into the season.
During the 2014-15 campaign, Ovechkin would go on to score 24 goals in his next 30 games. In 2015-16, the Russian machine would score 25 goals in his next 30 games.
What else do those two seasons prior to this one have in common? Ovechkin ended both campaigns with 50 goals and the Rocket Richard Trophy.
Now some may point out the concerning drop in some of Ovechkin’s peripherals to begin this season, but I believe that those should even out some as Evgeny Kuznetsov has seemingly realized his old form. Kuznetsov has eight points in his last six games after starting the campaign with nine in 23. Kuzy’s play should solidify the top six and give #8 an elite playmaker that can do a lot of the heavy lifting on the line.
So that’s why I wouldn’t worry. History tends to repeat itself and, if the past two seasons are any judge, Ovechkin’s dashboard stats are about to go bananas.
