Ovechkin's Time is Now
Tonight, the Capitals, led by Alexander Ovechkin, play the Penguins in a decisive Game 7. The Capitals, for the second season in a row, led the NHL in points, but have failed to attain the same success in the postseason. It seems as though every year the Capitals disappoint. Ovechkin is unquestionably an all-time great, in terms pure of talent. He has all of the personal accolades one could ever want, yet team success has escaped him. That needs to change. He needs to lead the Caps to a victory over the Penguins tonight, and lead Washington to a Stanley Cup. If he fails to do so yet again, he will be to hockey what Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing are to basketball - all-time greats without a ring. If Ovechkin wants to be mentioned in the same breath as Gretzky (which is still in play), he better lead his team to the promise land. He has underperformed far too much for a player of his stature in the postseason. I expect him to go on to have a sensational Game 7, leading the Capitals on to the Eastern Conference Finals and a date with the Ottawa Senators.
