The Capitals captain has been held without a shot on goal in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
The start of the 2023-24 season hasn't gone according to plan by any means for the Washington Capitals. At the same time, captain Alex Ovechkin is experiencing struggles of his own; with his "GR8 Chase" and pursuit of Wayne Gretzky still in full swing, he's not only failing to find twine but also failing to find the net.
Ovechkin, for the first time in his 19-year NHL career, has been held without a shot on goal in two straight games. The last time he registered a SOG was on Friday in the 4-0 season-opening loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Not only has he been plagued by the lack of shots, but the entire team is failing to get much going offensively. Washington has been outshot in all three games to open the season, and the most shots the Capitals managed so far in a game was on Wednesday in Ottawa when they managed 24 shots against the Senators. Twelve of those came in the first period.
Through three games, Washington has averaged 22 shots on goal, which ranks second to last to start the season (only the San Jose Sharks have less), and the club's one-goal-per-game average is the second-lowest (the Seattle Kraken also just three goals through four games).
However, there's a key piece to the puzzle here: it's only three games into the season, and there's still time to work with. And Ovechkin has been in this territory before — somewhat. Also, the attempts are there, so it's not for a lack of trying; those attempts have just gotten blocked or gone wide.
The 38-year-old went four games without a goal to open the season back in 2012-13 when the team returned from a lockout. He still managed to rack up a league-leading 32 goals in 48 games that season. Last year, he went without a goal through the first three games of the season and then came back to score 42 despite missing nine games along the way in an injury-plagued year.
While it's still early, there is a need for a quick fix and some urgency.
Getting Ovechkin going is vital for the Capitals, who have failed to find an identity on the forward lines while also failing to score any goals off of sustained pressure in the offensive zone. All three goals this season have come on rushes, including John Carlson's goal that Ovechkin assisted on Wednesday. Not only that, but the power play is also 0-for-8 to open the campaign and can't seem to get anything going.
"I don’t think it’s a lack of effort... we’re struggling right now. We’re not executing well offensively," head coach Spencer Carbery explained. "We’re not clicking like a well-oiled machine offensively, power play, finishing chances 2-on-1s, odd-man rushes' it’s not clicking."
Based on Ovechkin's history, and the fact that his lethal shot and offensive prowess are still there (it by no means is gone), there's no reason to excessively worry about him this early on.
Plus, new linemates should help. He showed more chemistry working with Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson (71.43 Corsi-for percentage, 69.01 expected goals-for percentage) on Wednesday after starting the first two games with Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie (47.92 CF%, 28.54 xGF%). Giving that line more time to mesh should make a difference.
Ovechkin has made it clear that the start of the season is the most important time for a team, so expect him to step up. And while there should be urgency, there's no need to hit the panic button just three games into an 82-game campaign.