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NHL Playoff Diary: Less is more for Alex Ovechkin

Michael Traikos, National Post, May 6, 2012

“Ticking away the moments that make up a slow day. You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.”

For a band that appealed to so many stoners, Pink Floyd’s “Time” was a kick-in-the-butt to get off the couch and do something. The song, off their epic 1974 album Dark Side of the Moon, was about how time is precious and that before you know it you grow old and realize that the best years of your life have slipped away.

For Alex Ovechkin, it might as well be his theme song during these playoffs.

The Washington Capitals captain previously had a laid-back lifestyle playing under former head coach Bruce Boudreau. Ovechkin stayed on the ice for as long as he wanted, sometimes scoring, sometimes floating in the defensive zone, without a care in the world. And then Dale Hunter stepped behind the bench with an iron fist and a stopwatch.

He made the enigmatic star make the most of his minutes, playing him for 15 minutes and nine seconds in a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final on Saturday.

The thing is, the less Ovechkin gets, the better he seems to play.

Ovechkin, who leads the Capitals with seven points in these playoffs, scored a goal in Saturday’s win. He has three goals and two assists in games when he has played 21 or fewer minutes, and has one goal and one assist when he has played more than 22 minutes.

It should also be noted that the Capitals are 5-2 when he plays 21 or fewer minutes and 1-3 when he plays more than 22 minutes

In a way, this makes sense. Ovechkin’s game is all about explosive energy. And if he is only playing a third of the game, he should have more in the tank to skate, hit and score goals.

In that regard, maybe time is on his side.

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
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