Alex The (Not So) Great

Shootouts have been superstar's kryptonite

When Alex Ovechkin burst onto the NHL scene in '05-'06, he made a name for himself being an unabashed scoring threat, especially when the game was on the line.

In shootouts that season, Ovie netted the puck on six of 13 attempts, three of them game deciders. His six shootout goals tied for fifth most in the league.

Since, as the Russian's legend has increased, his performance in crunch-time has not. The Caps desperately need Ovechkin to be better than the paltry 20 percent (5/25) he's been on shootout attempts over the last three years, with absolutely zero game deciders.

This season's 28.6 percent (2/7) is an improvement from the 16.7 percent over the last two seasons. But last night's lackadaisical shootout effort in a loss against the Geritol-fueled Curtis Joseph, Toronto's stop-gap solution after their starting goalie was ejected with about two minutes left in regulation, doesn't exactly spew confidence in Ovie being the man.

True, the Caps would be nowhere without Ovechkin. Still, what's Coach Boudreau to do? Trick Ovie by telling him that shootout goals count toward his total?

Taking the NHL's leading goal scorer out of the rotation in favor of Backstrom, Semin, and Kozlov might be a start. After all, they're the Washington Capitals, not the Washington Ovechkins.

Whatever the solution, the Caps need to build momentum, quickly, after only posting a 5-7 record so far in March.

Heading into the season's final seven games, all against non-playoff teams, and tied with New Jersey for second in the East, this young team sure could use a confidence boost.

stats via NHL.com
 

Kyle Weidie also writes Truth About It and contributes to Bullets Forever, both Washington Wizards blogs. He challenges Ovechkin to a shootout ... from the free-throw line.

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