The Washington Capitals‘ biggest star has yet to start shining two games into the playoffs.
So far in the team’s first-round series against the New York Rangers, Alex Ovechkin does not quite look like his usual self.
He failed to record a shot on goal in Game 1 — a 4-1 loss for the Capitals — and was held to just one in Game 2 on Tuesday night — a 4-3 loss.
Additionally, a bad turnover by Ovechkin on the power play in Game 2 directly led to a shorthanded goal for the Rangers.
Ovechkin is not a player who has typically been called out by his coaches throughout his career, but post-game on Tuesday, Spencer Carbery provided an honest assessment of his less than stellar play.
“I thought the first two games, he looks a little bit off,” said Carbery. “He’s struggling. I mean, it’s hard. It’s the playoffs, on the road, he’s getting a tough matchup.”
Ovechkin, 38, finished the regular season with 31 goals and 34 assists in 79 games.
Reaching the post-season in 15 out of his 19 NHL seasons, the Russian forward has 72 goals and 69 assists across 148 career playoff games.
Despite Carbery’s disappointment with Ovechkin’s performance so far, the coach expressed his confidence that the Capitals captain could quickly turn things around.
“We’re going back home now. We’ll get an opportunity to be able to control the matchup for him,” Carbery said. “He can flip it. That’s one thing about Ovi: he can flip it in one game and now all of a sudden be a difference-maker and help us win a game or be a driver in winning us a game on home ice.”
Down 2-0 in the series, the Capitals will head to Washington looking to even things up with the Rangers. Catch Game 3 on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+ on Friday starting at 7 p.m. ET/ 4p.m. PT.
