{"id":16956,"date":"2012-03-26T10:00:28","date_gmt":"2012-03-26T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yurasko.net\/wfy\/?p=16956"},"modified":"2012-03-26T10:00:28","modified_gmt":"2012-03-26T14:00:28","slug":"is-alex-ovechkin-back-is-it-too-late-for-the-2011-2012-capitals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yurasko.net\/wfy\/2012\/03\/is-alex-ovechkin-back-is-it-too-late-for-the-2011-2012-capitals\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Alex Ovechkin back? Is it too late for the 2011-2012 Capitals?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago, a rather scathing profile on Alex Ovechkin ran in The Post<\/em> — Alex Ovechkin: What\u2019s wrong with the Washington Capitals superstar?<\/a><\/p>\n

There were sources, named and unnamed, who offered their assessments of why Ovechkin wasn’t the 60 goals a year superstar of the past. The Caps poor playoff performances and lackluster 2011-2012 season have everyone looking for an answer. The narrative seemed to fit.<\/p>\n

Since then, Ovechkin has been on a tear, averaging about a goal a game as the Caps challenge for the Southeast division or the final Eastern playoff spot. After two consecutive losses in overtime, last night Ovechkin had another big game, from both ends of the ice, as the Caps shutout the Minnesota Wild. Ovechkin made a critical blocked shot on the penalty kill as well as scoring a goal and an assist.<\/p>\n

Ovechkin brilliant in Capitals win<\/a> – CSN Washington<\/em><\/p>\n

Huge game tomorrow night with the Buffalo Sabres, tied for 8th place with the Caps, headed to D.C. I am not sold on whether the team at large has any heart, but Ovechkin has certainly raised his game of late. Whether the negative coverage is a coincidence or not, I don’t even care.<\/p>\n

Here he is talking to Lindsay Czarniak<\/strong>, now with ESPN, about the recent criticism.<\/p>\n