Somewhere between 2008 and now Alex Ovechkin was labeled as someone who “disappears in the playoffs.” Last series proved that is just not the case.
With the series hanging in the balance, Ovechkin scored not once, but twice to help the Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 en route to a 4-2 series win. Ovechkin had eight points (five goals, three assists) in the six game series. Only defenseman John Carlson had more points for the Capitals in the series and nobody had more goals.
This only added to Ovechkin’s continued success in the playoffs. According to hockeyreference.com Ovechkin is ninth in points per game in the playoffs (.95) for skaters that have played at least 21 games since the 2007-2008 season (the first year the Caps made the playoffs with Ovechkin). He is third in goals (51), behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin has played in 103 playoff games whereas Crosby and Malkin are both at 149. Ovechkin is sixth in points with 98.
If that isn’t enough to end the narrative, lets look at some of the goalies Ovechkin has faced in the playoffs. He has faced Henrik Lundqvist a whopping five times, Tim Thomas once, Jaroslav Halak twice and of course Marc-Andre Fluery and Matt Murray and finally Sergei Bobrovsky this year before another bout with Murray.
Those goalies are some of the best in the league for their time and Ovechkin is still able to score almost a point a game. Ovechkin might not have the total points of Crosby or Malkin, but that is because he has played less games. Perhaps it appears that Ovechkin isn’t scoring in the playoffs because the Caps depth scoring is usually what causes them to lose a series. However this narrative got started, it is time to put it to rest. Ovechkin has been one of the best playoff performers since he entered the league. The Caps playoff shortcomings are not on him by any means.
