from Michael Traikos at the National Post,

You need players of all shapes and sizes and salary structures to make contributions in the playoffs. As Trotz continues to say during this post-season, “we’re looking for a new hero every night.” And yet, every year, the same cliché rings true: you only go as far as your best players will take you.

In Games 1 and 2, Ovechkin was a monster in Manhattan. He terrorized the city like he was King Kong, scoring twice on goals that had even New York fans shaking their heads at in disbelief, and setting up a game-winner right before the buzzer. But since then, the Rangers defence has tamed him.

Ovechkin, who has 11 shots in the past three games, has not exactly been invisible. Far from it, actually. Every time he is on the ice, like when he uncorked a wrist shot that handcuffed Lundqvist on Friday night, there is the possibility that something special will happen, that he will change the course of the game with a get-them-out-of-their-seats goal.

“He’s been dangerous the whole series,” said Rangers centre Derek Stepan. “He’s been really good for them. His two goals in Games 1 and 2 were something that we have to try to continue to limit, because he’s going to get his looks.”

Ovechkin is getting his looks. But with no points in Games 3, 4 and 5, he is starting to mirror the performance he had two years ago against the Rangers, where he stormed out of the gates with a goal and an assist in Games 1 and 2, and then went missing in action as the Capitals were shutout in Games 6 and 7.

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