Capitals Insider: Alex Ovechkin


Posted at 12:21 PM ET, 08/10/2011

Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau: Alex Ovechkin will take role as captain โ€˜a step furtherโ€™ this season

The Capitals coach says he has talked to his star left wing about taking the role of team captain “a step further” to establish “a more serious tone” in the dressing room this season.

By Tarik El-Bashir  |  12:21 PM ET, 08/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Bruce Boudreau, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:35 AM ET, 05/29/2011

Reviewing the Capitalsโ€™ 2010-11 season: Alex Ovechkin

A player-by-player look at the season that was for the Washington Capitals.

By Katie Carrera  |  11:35 AM ET, 05/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 03:20 PM ET, 05/05/2011

Alex Ovechkin: โ€˜Most of the time I was hurtโ€™ this season

Alex Ovechkin says he’s contemplating a change in his training regimen this summer.

By Katie Carrera  |  03:20 PM ET, 05/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 10:13 AM ET, 03/02/2011

Ovechkin's 'vintage' goal clinches a two-point night for Capitals

(Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) In recent weeks, Alex Ovechkin has looked like his old self. He's skated with power, driving through opposing forwards and defenders alike, not allowing anything to prohibit him from attacking the net and taking as many shots on net as space will allow. For the...

By Katie Carrera  |  10:13 AM ET, 03/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 02/03/2011

Line change: Who should lead the attitude change?

On Wednesday, we asked readers whether they thought the Capitals needed to make a significant personnel move before the trade deadline in order to snap out of their doldrums. Opinions varied, but one prevailing sentiment seemed to be that the Caps' main issue is less with personnel and more with...

By Washington Post sports editors  |  11:31 AM ET, 02/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:29 AM ET, 02/02/2011

Alex Ovechkin, Semyon Varlamov absent from practice

UPDATED Left wing Alex Ovechkin and goalie Semyon Varlamov were not on the ice for the Washington Capitals' practice this morning, but Alexander Semin, who has been day to day with a lower body injury, skated following the team's 3-2 shootout loss to Montreal last night. With Ovechkin absent to...

By Gene Wang  |  11:29 AM ET, 02/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 08:32 AM ET, 02/02/2011

Overtime continues to plague Capitals

That the Washington Capitals stumbled against Montreal, 3-2, last night was disheartening enough. Then consider it was their eighth straight loss in overtime, and the anguish is compounded that much more. The maddening part for players and Coach Bruce Boudreau was that Washington had victory in hand, or at least...

By Gene Wang  |  08:32 AM ET, 02/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 08:14 AM ET, 02/01/2011

Five questions facing the Capitals

As the Capitals embark on the final 31 games of the regular season there are still quite a few questions facing the team as they push toward the trade deadline (Feb. 28) and playoffs. Here are what I believe to be five of the biggest questions left for the Capitals...

By Katie Carrera  |  08:14 AM ET, 02/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 08:43 AM ET, 01/31/2011

Capitals get back to work after the all-star break

Even though they were in the midst of seeking autographs from fellow all-stars to adorn their jerseys, Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green knew that their four-day break was winding down. The Capitals get back to work on the regular season, of which they have 31 games remaining, beginning with a...

By Katie Carrera  |  08:43 AM ET, 01/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 10:48 PM ET, 01/28/2011

Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green to suit up for 'Team Staal'

Mike Green told Alex Ovechkin he would petition the other powers that be for Team Staal -- Eric Staal and fellow alternate captain Ryan Kesler -- to select Ovechkin early in the NHL All-Star fantasy draft. So even after he wasn't the first overall pick of the draft, Ovechkin didn't...

By Katie Carrera  |  10:48 PM ET, 01/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 12:07 PM ET, 01/25/2011

Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom among those absent

The Washington Capitals conducted their last practice this morning before the all-star break, and the notable absences included Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johnasson, each of whom played in last night's 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers. Absent as well were Tom Poti and Eric Fehr, both...

By Gene Wang  |  12:07 PM ET, 01/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 10:24 AM ET, 01/25/2011

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin may be regaining his form

At times over roughly the last week, Alex Ovechkin has looked exactly like the dominant, energetic force that his reputation as a player is built on. Against the Rangers on Monday night, he created scoring chances off rushes, crashed the net (even sparking a bit of a shoving match with...

By Katie Carrera  |  10:24 AM ET, 01/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:38 AM ET, 01/21/2011

Bruce Boudreau: Chimera 'looking pretty good' on line with Ovechkin, Backstrom

It's pretty well understood that line combinations are only worth so much considering how long the Capitals groups have stayed together lately. But Thursday night against the Islanders, Coach Bruce Boudreau admitted that he thought Jason Chimera "is looking pretty good on that line." The line he was referring too...

By Katie Carrera  |  11:38 AM ET, 01/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 05:32 PM ET, 01/19/2011

Alex Ovechkin: 'You have to go there and fight for that puck'

On Monday, it was Mike Knuble who said that it will be the goals acquired from crashing the net that help the Washington Capitals' offense get back on track. In the past 24 hours, the player sounding the alert to go to the front of the net has been Alex...

By Katie Carrera  |  05:32 PM ET, 01/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 03:58 PM ET, 01/18/2011

Alex Ovechkin: NHL All-Star game captains 'deserve it'

After the NHL announced the uncontroversial picks of Carolina's Eric Staal and Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom for All-Star game captains, Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin said he was happy with the outcome. "I think they deserve it, especially Staal," Ovechkin said. The game will be played Jan. 30 at RBC Center in...

By Lindsay Applebaum  |  03:58 PM ET, 01/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 02:12 PM ET, 01/17/2011

Alex Ovechkin: starting 2011-12 in Russia would be 'pretty cool'

Over the weekend, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported that the Capitals are one of six NHL teams considering invitations from the league to start the 2011-12 season overseas. The process is still in the preliminary stages and one of the possible options, LeBrun wrote, would be the Capitals playing in Moscow....

By Katie Carrera  |  02:12 PM ET, 01/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 08:12 AM ET, 01/13/2011

Boudreau says 'a lot of things not going right' for Capitals' slumping stars

Against Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, Alex Ovechkin had more attempted shots blocked (5) than reach the net (2) but he also broke at least three sticks, maybe more, when taking aim for others. There's no question that Ovechkin, and several other players who were among the Capitals' top scorers...

By Katie Carrera  |  08:12 AM ET, 01/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 01/11/2011

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green talk about the All-Star game

Can Alex Ovechkin top this look from the 2009 All-Star game skills competition in Montreal? (Dave Sandford/Getty Images) This year's All-Star game will feature a format unlike anything the NHL has ever done before. The 42 players named to the All-Star roster will select six players to serve as...

By Katie Carrera  |  01:31 PM ET, 01/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:23 AM ET, 01/11/2011

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green named to NHL All-Star Game roster

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and defenseman Mike Green have been named to the NHL's All-Star Game roster, which was just released by the league. It will be Ovechkin's fourth All-Star Game appearance and Green's first. Here's the complete roster for the game, to be played Jan. 30 in Raleigh....

By Lindsay Applebaum  |  11:23 AM ET, 01/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 09:24 AM ET, 01/07/2011

Reflecting on the first year of Alex Ovechkin's captaincy

A year ago Wednesday, Alex Ovechkin was named captain of the Capitals. At the time, Tarik El-Bashir wrote that it was a formality more than anything as Washington had long since been perceived as Ovechkin's team. In the year since the "C" was officially added to Ovechkin's jersey, the Capitals...

By Katie Carrera  |  09:24 AM ET, 01/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 04:01 PM ET, 01/06/2011

Capitals' prospects impress at World Junior Championships

Evgeny Kuznetsov celebrates his game-winning overtime goal against Team Finland in the quarterfinals. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press) This morning when he arrived at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Alex Ovechkin made sure he found all of his Canadian teammates so that he could raise his arm in the air and celebrate Russia's...

By Katie Carrera  |  04:01 PM ET, 01/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 01:23 PM ET, 01/06/2011

Alex Ovechkin needed cortisone shot, expected to practice Friday

Alex Ovechkin received a cortisone shot on an undisclosed area following the Capitals' 1-0 overtime loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday and has been prohibited from handling the puck for two days, which was why he wore the gold no-contact jersey in practice this morning, according to Coach Bruce Boudreau....

By Katie Carrera  |  01:23 PM ET, 01/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 01/06/2011

Alex Ovechkin wearing no-contact jersey

Alex Ovechkin took the ice for practice at KCI in a gold jersey, which typically signifies no contact. He is taking part in most of the drills, sometimes mirroring the first line. I'll have an update on his status once the players are off the ice. Some other quick observations:...

By Katie Carrera  |  11:05 AM ET, 01/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 09:53 AM ET, 01/03/2011

Capitals are on an upswing, but Alex Ovechkin's slump is still a reality

(By Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) The Washington Capitals won the Winter Classic at Heinz Field and have gone 4-0-1 in their last five games. Captain Alex Ovechkin, of course, is part of his team's success, but on a personal level, he's underachieved this season. Ovechkin is being smothered...

By Washington Post Sports Editors  |  09:53 AM ET, 01/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:44 PM ET, 12/26/2010

Caps beat Hurricanes 3-2, Mathieu Perreault suffers a broken nose

Granted this was viewed from afar, but the Capitals needed another strong game after two days off to continue moving forward after snapping out of the December doldrums. They appeared to get just that on Sunday night in snow-covered Raleigh with a 3-2 win over the Hurricanes. It was a...

By Katie Carrera  |  11:44 PM ET, 12/26/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 05:57 PM ET, 12/20/2010

Alex Ovechkin is memorable

This week's "Year in Sports" issue of Sports Illustrated comes out Wednesday, and it features a photo essay on the year's 10 most memorable athletes -- including Caps star Alex Ovechkin -- by longtime sports photographer Walter Iooss Jr. Of Ovechkin, Iooss said: "I wanted to shoot Ovechkin because of...

By Lindsay Applebaum  |  05:57 PM ET, 12/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 12:10 AM ET, 12/13/2010

Caps blanked by Rangers, 7-0, drop sixth straight game

If there was a moment in the second period where the Capitals seemed most able to claw their way back from a large deficit, it was after Alex Ovechkin fought Brandon Dubinsky. Little more galvanizes a team as much as seeing its captain and most valuable player frustrated and emotional...

By Katie Carrera  |  12:10 AM ET, 12/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 02:07 PM ET, 12/10/2010

Alex Ovechkin: Caps' scoring drought 'starts with me'

There was no avoiding the fact Friday after practice that the Capitals need to rediscover their consistent scoring touch. Washington is 4-7 in its past 11 games, which feature two losing streaks bookending four consecutive wins, and when the Capitals have struggled it's coincided with a lack of goals on...

By Katie Carrera  |  02:07 PM ET, 12/10/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 10:50 PM ET, 12/04/2010

Capitals suffer rare regulation loss at Verizon Center, 3-1 to Thrashers

If there's any team that may represent the greater challenge the Southeast Division provides for the Capitals this season, it's Atlanta. The hard-working Thrashers, against whom Washington has gone 14-4-2 over the past three seasons, have not yielded an inch against the three-time defending division winners in this season and...

By Katie Carerra  |  10:50 PM ET, 12/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 04:20 PM ET, 11/23/2010

Boudreau comments on Ovechkin's conversation after NJ loss

After putting the Capitals through more a practice without many pucks involved (more on that shortly), Coach Bruce Boudreau was asked whether he talked to Alex Ovechkin about Ovechkin and Alexander Semin's seemingly up-beat conversation with New Jersey star Ilya Kovalchuk following the Devils' 5-0 win over Washington. "We make...

By Katie Carrera  |  04:20 PM ET, 11/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 01:56 PM ET, 10/21/2010

Boudreau: Caps' top line is 'slightly missing'

Mike Knuble gets stuffed by Boston goalie Tim Thomas. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) While the Capitals' top line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Knuble has created its share of offensive chances and combined for 14 points (6 goals 8 assists) through the first six games of the...

By Katie Carrera  |  01:56 PM ET, 10/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:06 PM ET, 10/11/2010

Capitals get contributions from all ages on penalty kill

In a penalty-filled game against Ottawa tonight, the Washington Capitals' man-down unit had almost as much to do with the club's 3-2 victory at Verizon Center as Alex Ovechkin's goal with 31 seconds to play in overtime. Ovechkin's winner certainly was spectacular, and it's what teammates, coaches and fans have...

By Gene Wang  |  11:06 PM ET, 10/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 10:37 PM ET, 10/09/2010

Alex Ovechkin: 'It was a pretty big step for us tonight'

John McDonnell/The Washington Post Alex Ovechkin continued his streak of a goal in every home opener, tallying two against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils tonight (one on a penalty shot) to bring his total to 10 goals and two assists in six games. "I've had a couple of...

By Lindsay Applebaum  |  10:37 PM ET, 10/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 09:49 PM ET, 10/07/2010

Video: Ovechkin shoots...and scores! But how?

How does Capitals star Alex Ovechkin score so many goals? Canadian professor and author of "The Physics of Hockey" Alain Hache reveals the science of a slap shot, and what gives Ovechkin his edge. Watch the video now, and be sure to check out the full-page print graphic in...

By Lindsay Applebaum  |  09:49 PM ET, 10/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:16 PM ET, 09/28/2010

Ovechkin records pair of assists in preseason debut: Capitals 3, Bruins 2

Alex Ovechkin's sheer presence on the Verizon Center ice was enough to elicit cheers from the crowd Wednesday night. On his second shift though, Ovechkin recorded a big hit on Boston's Johnny Boychuk in the Capitals' defensive zone, kicking off what became a physical game and an eventual 3-2 Washington...

By Katie Carrera  |  11:16 PM ET, 09/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin | Tags:  Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, preseason

Posted at 10:11 AM ET, 09/18/2010

Training camp officially under way

Washington Capitals training camp has begun at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, with players skating on both ice surfaces. Right now Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Knuble, all in red jerseys, are among those skating with Group A on the main sheet under the watchful eye of Coach Bruce Boudreau. Starting...

By Gene Wang  |  10:11 AM ET, 09/18/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin

Posted at 11:47 AM ET, 09/16/2010

Alex Ovechkin: 'We have to think about the playoffs differently'

Alex Ovechkin skated at Kettler Capitals Iceplex this morning for the first time since last spring. Here's a transcript of his media scrum after the veterans' informal workout: On the summer: It was a pretty fun summer, just chill with my friends; go out almost every night. On the longest...

By Katie Carrera  |  11:47 AM ET, 09/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alex Ovechkin