The Washington Capitals go head to head with their Metropolitan Division rival Philadelphia Flyers tonight at 7 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network. After we told you to start John Carlson in fantasy we also recommend you put in Alex Ovechkin.
While the Caps power play has been their biggest offensive weakness, it has picked up a little bit lately. But it is still just three of their last 20 opportunities. It has a success rate of 8.2 percent as it’s scored on six of 73 opportunities. It is 32nd in the NHL just 0.2 behind the St. Louis Blues.
Sean Allen of ESPN.com Fantasy wrote about Ovechkin when it came to the power play:
"The Capitals are still all-in on giving Ovie every chance for success this season, as he leads all NHLers in the relativity ranking for power-play time. We should talk more about his 5.6% shooting percentage and whether it’s a slow start or a new normal. He’s only 20 shots behind the pace he had through 25 games last season, so while his volume has dipped, it’s not a profound drop.I know Ovechkin is now 38 years old and not supposed to stay at the same rates, but with this much power-play opportunity, I think there’s a world in which the pace starts picking up a bit. Through 25 games last season he had 43 shots on the advantage and six power-play goals. He’s only nine shots off that same shooting pace, but has a solitary power-play goal this season. I think some Ovechkin puck luck is due. Soon."
When Ovi gets hot he’s unstoppable. He hopes to break out soon after starting the season out with just five goals so far putting him 67 to tie and 68 to pass Wayne Gretzky.
Because of that slow start, Ryan Dadoun of Yahoo Fantasy Sports would rather avoid Ovechkin:
"Ovechkin’s play this season has reflected his age. The 36-year-old has five goals and 16 points in 25 contests. That’s not terrible, but it’s far below what you’d want from a player at his price point. Ovechkin has been particularly ineffective recently, going 10 straight games without a goal while registering just four assists over that stretch."
In addition to five goals, Ovechkin has been picking up the assists with 11. He finished with 33 assists last season and has a chance to pass that number and his 1,500th career point came on an assist to Dylan Strome, who leads the Caps in goals this season.