The New York Rangers are 2-0 up in the first-round series against the Washington Capitals after two dominant performances at Madison Square Garden.
What’s even more worrying for the Capitals is that their biggest star has yet to make an impact on the series.
Alex Ovechkin has not looked like himself through the two games, and his performance in Tuesday’s game even had his coach calling his captain out publicly.
Alex Ovechkin had a slow start to the season, but ended it great.
He started with just eight goals through his first 43 goals but eventually reached 30 goals for an NHL-record 18th season. But the playoffs have been a different story.
Ovechkin failed to record a shot in Game 1, which the Capitals lost 4-1, and he just had one shot in Game 2 on Tuesday.
The Capitals lost 4-3, and postgame head coach Spencer Carbery called his superstar captain out for his weak performances.
”I thought the first two games, he looks a little bit off,” said Carbery. ”He’s struggling. I mean, it’s hard. It’s the playoffs, on the road, he’s getting a tough matchup.”
It’s not often through Ovechkin’s incredible career that his coaches have called him out, but in Tuesday’s game, he also had a bad turnover on a power play that directly led to a Rangers shorthanded goal.
On social media, Ovechkin was absolutely burned for the play.
”Ovi controller died,” one said on X, formerly Twitter.
”Yikes that turnover. This is not how I want to remember Ovi,” another said.
”Ovi with the best pass,” a third said.
