from Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post,

California hasn’t been kind to the Washington Capitals this week, and it’s been particularly cruel to captain Alex Ovechkin. On Sunday, he launched four shots at goaltender Jonathan Bernier, but for a 10th straight game, Ovechkin didn’t score as the Capitals fell to the Ducks, 5-2.

That marks a career-long drought for Ovechkin, and the Capitals’ struggles — a season-worst four-game losing streak — have highlighted his own. It’s been 18 games since he’s scored an even-strength goal, and he has just two points in past nine games. His recent play has improved, but the score sheet has still eluded him.

“A little bit frustrating because the puck don’t go in,” Ovechkin said. “You just maybe wait something happen going to be, a miracle or something. You just have to work harder and fight through it.”

So how does Ovechkin, a veteran of 907 games and 1,022 points, manage this new feeling of being unable to score?

“You know, I’m not a rookie anymore,” Ovechkin said. “I don’t think about, ‘Do I have to score every game?’ Of course, I wanted to. If you look at the chances we don’t have, it’s all about me. The guys give me really good plays, and I just have to put it in. One goal and it’s turned around in a different way.”

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