Caps 1, Blues 2
Ovi's stats:
1 assist, +1, total ice time 16:46, 23 shifts, average 00:43, PP 00:20, even 16:26, 1 shot on goal, 3 missed, 4 hits, 1 giveawayNothing changed for Ovi, same very short shifts, not much of ice time, but he looked like old vintage Ovi. Only after today's game you can understand Pavel Bure's comment about Ovi, "you can't play at this level forever". Only now you can appreciate how Ovi was able to play at this level for 5 unbelievable seasons. But now I agree with Bure, it is impossible to play like old vintage Ovi for a long time. Something's gotta give...
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4 comments:
Meh. The one positive I got from this game is the Caps avoided a humiliating blowout like they endured in Toronto and Buffalo. Other than that, it was more of the same old same old. They looked more like they were playing not to lose instead of playing to win. Way too tentative for my taste, and IMO Hunter won't like it at all.
Yes, it's going to take more than one game for Hunter to turn this team around. At least he got the chance to see up close and personal the challenge ahead.
As for Ovie...I have to ask. Is he looking at video of himself? Before he left for summer vacation he said he was going to do this. Is there any evidence he did any of it over the summer? Is he doing it now? I don't mean the team video sessions, I mean EXTRA time watching, trying to find some answers to regain his old form. Is he spending EXTRA time at practice working on his shot, stick handling, and puck control? When you wear the C and are the team's highest paid player, you do what is necessary to get out of your slump or whatever it is that's holding you back.
Like most Caps fans I endured Ovie's forgettable last season hoping for a turnaround this year. Alas not much has changed for the better this year. At this point I've given up trying to figure out why he's having problems, why he often looks either lost or disinterested. I'm only interested in what specifically Ovie is doing to get out of his funk. A coach can only do so much, at some point it's the player's responsibility to get his act together. I hope for Ovie's sake he gets there soon.
Ov looked like his old self? He was terrible! Had zero puck control, got lost in his own zone and missed what could have been a game tier in the final seconds. Awful.
Ahh, at least I'm not alone in seeing how badly Ovechkin is playing. Does he need an eye exam? Anyone else playing so far under par would be a healthy scratch.
Vintage Ovechkin had problems with puck handling as well at times. "Zero puck control"? Not true, on the opposite, he had a couple real good moves. What's the most important he had a jump like he used to be. If he'll continue like that, he'll be back.
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