from Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post,

There was a moment Monday, one that will be lost in yet another restless offseason, in which it seemed it could be Alex Ovechkin’s night. In one first-period shift, the Washington Capitals right winger crushed helpless New York Rangers defenseman John Moore in the open ice. He then tracked down Steve Eminger and delivered another blow. And before he returned to the bench, he lined up Ryan McDonagh, jarring him. The boards rattled. Verizon Center roared.

But as the clock wound down, and another spring of hockey ended in the District, Ovechkin was left to look down at his feet, glance up at the scoreboard, and consider another long summer ahead. His early hits scarcely rattled the Rangers, and his lone shot couldn’t getpast infallible New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist, so Washington is back in a familiar spot: Wondering when and how — and, more increasingly, if — the Ovechkin-led Capitals will ever advance deep into the NHL playoffs.

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