Goal Line Report
The NHL Needs the Ovechkin of Old to Return to Form
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/08/12 at 02:06 PM ET
Comments (2)
With Pittsburgh Penguins’ superstar Sidney Crosby struggling to get healthy, the National Hockey League needs a player like Washington Capitals’ forward Alex Ovechkin to be better now more than ever.
In Ovechkin’s first few seasons in the NHL, he was absolutely amazing to watch. “Ovy” could score goals at will, fire pucks and more pucks on net, dipsy doodle around five skaters, and hit with the best of them.
Last season, however, the league saw a much different Ovechkin. Ovechkin scored just 32 goals after averaging close to 54 goals a season in his first five years in the NHL.
The league and its fans also saw Ovechkin get lazy on shifts, fail to back check, turn over the puck, and even have his lowest shot total of his career with 367. Prior to last season, Ovechkin averaged close to 432 shots a season.
Fast forward to this season and after a slow start, it seems like Sir Alex is beginning to find his game again. In 39 games this season, Ovechkin has 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points.
Furthermore, Ovechkin is starting to show that streaky side of his. In his last six games, Ovechkin has 6 goals and 3 assists for nine points.
If this Ovechkin can come back in full force, the NHL will be much better off.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: alex+ovechkin,
washington+capitals
Comments
I hate this poster boy shxt. We need Bure back. Whatever. There are 700 players in the league. Datsuyk has always been more exciting. In fact, Backstrom has always been more of a treat to watch. It’s a team sport and the extreme individualists, like Kovalev, don’t have longevity. Perhaps if The Grand Prince Ovie can get his head out of his ass - not really his fault, with that marketing campaign to contend with - he will just be a great winger and get on with some actual winning.
Posted by Guerin'sBackcheck on 01/08/12 at 08:27 PM ET
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The NHL doesn’t need Ovy. The NHL needs to embrace Hank and Danny and give them the respect they deserve.
It is foolishness to wait for stars to return to form, Crosby or Ovetchkin. The Sedins are the real deal. The NHL needs to recognize this and market them properly.
Posted by Rockjetty from Seattle on 01/08/12 at 02:28 PM ET