Alexander Ovechkin has scored nine small goals in 44 games this season and wanted to give his team a much bigger harvest, but he is far from giving in to despair and wants to lead the Washington Capitals towards playoff qualification.
• Also read: Brandon Gignac talks about his biggest accomplice
• Also read: Nick Cousins denies being a “rat”.
• Also read: NHL: the 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field with Connor Bedard
It is particularly important for the club captain to end a dry first half of the season, which was marked by a run of 14 games without a single goal. He also used the last few days of the break to recharge his batteries with his family in Dubai, where he particularly went on a camel ride.
This means the Russian has the best chance of regaining the lead. In addition, he can build on the positives, as in his last meeting on January 27 against the Dallas Stars, he scored a goal and an assist at the end of the third period. With a firm attitude and the will to pull himself together, Ovechkin would therefore be on Tuesday to begin the remainder of the regular schedule against the Montreal Canadiens.
In fact, there is no question that the second-highest scorer in National Hockey League history will miss the playoffs again; Washington sits 12th in the Eastern Conference.
“Of course we want to get a spot in the playoffs to fight for the Stanley Cup. It's up to us to show how we want to play to get there. If you look at the names of our lines, you will see that they are good attacking lines. We have to take advantage of our opportunities. “We have to play smart on defense and in the neutral zone and not make stupid mistakes that could cost us the win,” he told NHL.com.
There's still a long way to go
On an individual level, the 38-year-old athlete continues his hunt for Wayne Gretzky's record, the absolute leader with 894 goals. With 63 goals behind La Merveille, Ovechkin will not change the recipe that has led him to great success over the years, even if the results are slow to arrive in 2023-24.
“I know I have to do better to get those shots in the cage. Sometimes you don't get many opportunities, but you have to capitalize on them. “When your first goal is scored, you feel more comfortable and your game progresses,” said the one who dominated his team with 151 shots.
This way, number 8 will never hit the panic button and his teammates can take inspiration from it.
“He acts like the veteran he represents. He doesn't seem frustrated. After going through famines with no goals, […] I think paying attention to details and contributing in other ways [que l’offensive] are very important. Then his presence alone remains a factor for other formations, explained TJ Oshie. The goals will come, and when they do, you already know that few players produce as sustained a performance as he does.