Playoff validation eludes Ovechkin
The most famous photograph of Bobby Orr features him flying through the air, arms extended like Superman, after his overtime goal clinched the 1970 Stanley Cup for the Boston Bruins.
Photographer Ray Lussier’s work exquisitely captures the aura of an iconic sports hero in the midst of winning a title.
The NHL’s most revered athletes, such as Orr, Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, had different positions, personalities and styles, but their common bond was playing a starring role in a championship run.
Of all of Gretzky’s amazing accomplishments, is there any more magnificent than his total of 159 points during the Edmonton Oilers’ four Stanley Cup campaigns in the 1980s? How about Lemieux’s 16 goals and 34 points in 15 games to help the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Cup in 1992?
Howe won four Cups. In the last title run in 1955, he had nine goals and 20 points in 11 games.
You can be a respected player, even a Hall of Famer, with no title on your résumé. But if you want to be in the photo with the best of the best you have to prove you can carry a team to a title.
That’s why every playoff series is important to Alex Ovechkin’s legacy and why Saturday’s Game 5 might be one of the most important games of his career.
Ovechkin’s legacy is fully vested. He’s the greatest scorer of this generation. His ability to score 50 goals or more seven times in this low- scoring era is remarkable. His reputation likely will grow after he retires as we watch other greats unable to match Ovechkin’s accomplishments.
But fair or unfair, he won’t be considered a full member of hockey royalty without a championship ring. That’s just the way it works.
In much of Ovechkin’s time in Washington, the team wasn’t good enough to win a Stanley Cup. But Ovechkin also hasn’t given us enough incredible playoff moments to make us believe in his ability lift his team.
You know he wants to win. His passion is evident. He loves the game. Many years when the Caps were ousted from the playoffs, Ovechkin joined Russia at the world championships. He craves team success.
But passion hasn’t translated into playoff success. The Capitals lost Game 4 to the division rival Pittsburgh Penguins, despite the absence of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby ( concussion), and trail 3- 1 in the series.
Ovechkin had a miserable game. He said he made “stupid decisions.”
Washington coach Barry Trotz did not single out Ovechkin, but did say his top players didn’t play well enough.
The frustration for Washington fans is they know Ovechkin is capable of carrying this team. But everyone is keenly aware that Crosby, who practiced Friday but whose status for Game 5 is unknown, has proved himself to be a superb playoff performer. He has won two Stanley Cups, while Ovechkin is still struggling.
Caps fans keep hoping Ovechkin will have a Mark Messier moment, similar to when the New York Rangers captain guaranteed a win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals and delivered a hat trick. The Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The Capitals have a team capable of winning the Stanley Cup. That’s why there has never been a better time for Ovechkin to have his Messier moment.