Will Ovechkin pass Gretzky’s Goal Total?

[2014olympicgold]

Maybe, but even without PPs, that seems low for a top line player.

Ya, 13min+5PPTOI is still 2min less than his avg.

On twitter it's not saying anything.

- He had 18 shifts (avgs 20.5shifts/game), so that's in line especially for no PP time.
- With LAK having 39shots, and with 27FW (45Faceoffs in the game), the play could have been starting in the Washington zone a lot. And Ovi starting only 21% of his shifts in the defensive zone (this season) could have been a big factor.

I'm assuming you're looking to see if they benched him. But I think it's more situational game as the away team, no PP time, (likely) lots of defensive zone starts.

[Axeman33]

Ya, 13min+5PPTOI is still 2min less than his avg.

On twitter it's not saying anything.

- He had 18 shifts (avgs 20.5shifts/game), so that's in line especially for no PP time.
- With LAK having 39shots, and with 27FW (45Faceoffs in the game), the play could have been starting in the Washington zone a lot. And Ovi starting only 21% of his shifts in the defensive zone (this season) could have been a big factor.

I'm assuming you're looking to see if they benched him. But I think it's more situational game as the away team, no PP time, (likely) lots of defensive zone starts.

That or an injury.

[2014olympicgold]

That or an injury.

I think he took a spill pretty hard like 5 or 6 days ago now. Maybe he does have a stinger somewhere. If you're at like 10min going into the 3rd, if you have a healthy Ovi, you'd think you'd put him out there in the defensive zone just to get minutes up.

[tweetdrivr]

I watched the game. The Caps played a tight 2-1 end of road trip style game. It was tight checking, few PPs as noted, and a real uptempo game. None of that lends itself to Ovechkin getting a ton of time. He was pretty invisible.

[hockeyrobot]

It's over folks. He's hit the cliff.

[blayze]

We all knew the cliff was coming but man, this cliff is steep AF

[2014olympicgold]

I think a lot of it is the team around him and his actual fall isn't this bad. 10team NTC is interesting on his deal....Why wouldn't they give him a full NTC...

[LawMan]

I have not watched much Capitals action but the fall-off is stiff.
Earlier in the year it seemed like he was still getting a ton of shots, but nothing was going in, which could have meant a correction was coming.
His shot totals seem to still be there so still some possibility a correction to career average S% (or at least a bump up) occurs.

GP - 23
SOG - 84
G - 5
S% - 5.95%
Career S% - 12.9%

Again, I have not watched many Capitals games to see what the issue is. If his shot, especially his marquee slapper has lost some speed then a steep drop-off could be possible.
However, if he's just hitting too many posts then a correction should be in the cards.

[hockeyrobot]

Finally a streak. 61 to go.

[Belexus75]

he needs at least 2 more years at better pace than this year...i dont know...that team is just going to get worst....i was pretty confident that was slam dunk and now im not sure....i hope he will.

interesting fact is that his shot total are close to previous years, but goals are not.

its very possible that we will look at this and say: Covid years cost Ovi the record.

[hockeyrobot]

Another one last night. He's alive baby.

[2014olympicgold]

There's your Ovi heater.

[hockeyrobot]

There's your Ovi heater.

59 to go.

[LawMan]

He's now up to 8.2% shooting on the year.
Still well under his previous 2 years of 15.0 and 14.3 and his career average of 12.8

I expect him to finish the year around 28 goals (14 more to his current 14)
Leaving 45 goals to go and 2 seasons (under contract still) to do it in. Of course he could always retire early but I don't think that happens unless there is a major injury or he continues to fall off.

[2014olympicgold]

With 28games left for Washington, he's averaging 3.469sog/game, so he's projected to get 97sog more. Wonder if he can pot goals at a 12% pace to finish the yr with 11.6 more goals. Which would have him finish with 25goals, his 2nd lowest of his career (24G in 45gp the COVID yr)