One of the biggest rivals of the Pittsburgh Penguins hasn't looked great to start the 2023-24 season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins know all too well the kind of threat Alex Ovechkin can be when he is on his game.

For almost two decades, the Penguins and Washington Capitals have been a marquee rivalry in the NHL, but one of the most significant pieces to the feud is off to a cold start.

Through four games of the 2023-24 season, Ovechkin is yet to record a goal and has only notched two assists.

Without Ovechkin’s scoring punch, the Capitals have started the season 1-2-1; the Penguins picked up their first win of the season in a shutout against the Capitals.

If you stretch into the 2022-23 season, Ovechkin has gone nine consecutive games without a goal, which is tied for the second longest drought of his career.

Runs without scoring like that can’t happen when you’re chasing down history and trying to become the NHL’s all-time leader in goals.

Ovechkin is still 72 back of Wayne Gretzky, and will likely kick things into gear, but he’s got to get back on pace quickly.

Normally, Ovechkin is a lock to tally a few power play goals over any stretch of games, but he and the entire Capitals roster are yet to record with a man advantage.

In 13 opportunities, the are yet to score their first power play goal of the season.

Ovechkin is 38-years-old and it’s never once seemed like his production was slowing down; last season he picked up 42 goals and 50 the year prior.

Those aren’t Rocket Richard numbers anymore, but they are still unreal for a player of his age.

The Capitals might not strike the same fear that they used to, but they should still be a tough team to play against if Ovechkin is able to wake up from his slump.

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