from Tom Gulitti of NHL.com,
As Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz promised following a 3-2 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, he sat down with captain Alex Ovechkin prior to practice Tuesday to discuss his recent spate of penalties.
Ovechkin has taken five minors over the past three games and a team-leading 11 this season, "unacceptable," according to Trotz.
"Actually, it went well," Trotz said of his talk with Ovechkin. "You know and I know that we have a very straightforward relationship. Alex doesn't hide from anything. He mans up, all that. So it was good. He understands the best way to help the team is to not be in the penalty box. Especially some of the stick penalties and stuff, he can get those out of his game. He knows that. We need him on the ice. He knows that we need him on the ice. That's where he's going to be most productive.
"So he knows as a leader of our team he can't be putting us down in terms of being a man short as often as he has lately. I know he'll clean it up. He always responds very, very well."
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