Alex Ovechkin takes rest with Game 5 pressure building

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 15, 2025, 03:14 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Alex Ovechkin missed a practice day, but his coach insists that he's ready for the Game 5 that they need to win. He played hard and accounted for just one goal in this series. Ovechkin is known to produce pressure games, and he's one of the greatest of all time in elimination games. The Capitals require his goal-scoring, power, and leadership as they fight to extend their season against the Hurricanes.

Alex Ovechkin takes rest with Game 5 pressure building (Image Source: Getty Images)

Alex Ovechkin didn't skate in the morning on Wednesday. But don't worry, Capitals fans, the coach has told us everything is fine. Alex Ovechkin is just having a "maintenance day" and he's taking it easy ahead of Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Capitals can lose this next game and their season will be done, so this one is super important. The 39-year-old captain will play and give it his all to extend his team's season.

Alex Ovechkin gets ready for Game 5

Alex Ovechkin hasn't scored much in this playoff series. He has just one point on a five-on-three power play in Game 4. But he's still grinding. In that game, he played almost 20 minutes, more than in any other playoff game this season. He had three shots on goal, ten shot attempts, six scoring chances, and six big hits. He drew a penalty for tripping, showing how much he was involved.

In nine games through the playoffs so far, Alex Ovechkin has six points, five goals, and one assist. He's been playing mostly with Dylan Strome at center and Anthony Beauvillier, Aliaksei Protas, or Tom Wilson on his right wing. Ovechkin's line is solid when they are out there, helping the team achieve more scoring chances than the other team.Coach Spencer Carbery is helping Alex Ovechkin out by giving him simpler breaks. Ovechkin and Strome have only begun in the defensive zone once in nine games. This helps them to press more instead of defending.

Spencer Carbery has faith in Ovechkin's playoff scoring

Coach Carbery made everyone believe that Ovechkin would play Game 5. "No, no worry," he answered when asked if Alex Ovechkin would sit out the game.Alex Ovechkin has a track record of stepping up when his team is one game from losing. In 29 games that his team stood to lose, Alex Ovechkin has contributed 13 goals and 11 assists. That's 24 points total. Six players ever in NHL history have scored more goals than Alex Ovechkin in that do-or-die situation.Also Read: Alex Ovechkin Sets Off NHL's Largest Merchandise Boom After His 895th Goal Goes Viral

Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article