Trotz counting on Ovechkin to be ‘difference-maker’ for Caps

UNIONDALE, N.Y.— Alex The Great can be better.

That’s what Capitals coach Barry Trotz is counting on from Alex Ovechkin if Washington intends to bounce back in its first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders.

“He’s still a young man who’s growing,” Trotz said Monday, a day after a 2-1 overtime loss in which Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet for the second time in three playoff games.

“You’re going to have some different challenges along the way,” Trotz said. “And this is another one where he can be a difference-maker. And I expect him to be a difference-maker.”

The Capitals, who have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since Ovechkin arrived in 2005, trail New York 2-1 in a series that resumes at Long Island on Tuesday. The microscope is suddenly focusing directly on Ovechkin, whose prolific regular-season production is failing to carry over into the post-season.

After scoring 53 times to lead the NHL in goals for the third consecutive season, Ovechkin has scored just once on a team-high 15 shots against the Islanders. And the goal he scored in a 4-3 come-from-behind win in Game 2 at Washington snapped a seven-game playoff drought.

It’s on the road where Ovechkin’s numbers have dried up.

After combining for 10 goals and 14 assists in his first 16 career road playoff games, the franchise’s top playoff scorer has managed just a goal and two assists in his past 12 games away from Washington.

Trotz is not concerned about Ovechkin’s ability to respond to a challenge.

“He doesn’t shy away from anything,” the Capitals first-year coach said. “The one thing I found out about Alex Ovechkin is he’s not scared of anything.”

Ovechkin was his playful self, joking with teammates in both Russian and English in the locker-room after practice Monday. But he had nothing to say to reporters after being given the day off from speaking to the media.

The Islanders have done a good job of silencing Ovechkin as well.