The Washington Capitals are just moments away from taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network from Capital One Arena. If you play fantasy hockey, 100 percent start Alex Ovechkin on your squad.
The NHL season as a whole is five plus weeks into the season and there are plenty of players continuing to be hot while others have been caught into a slump. Past seasons sometimes can be an indication but not always. Ovechkin is proof of that especially at 39.
Here's what Michael Finexax of RotoWire via Yahoo Fantasy Sports said about the Great Eight:
"It was thought that Ovechkin had begun his decline last season, as the 39 year old had 31 goals - an average of only .39 goals per game, the lowest in his 19 year career. But he has exploded out of the gate this season with 10 goals and eight assists in his first 14 games of the season. The Capitals are also off to a tremendous start, and I don't think that they can maintain anywhere close to their current pace, as I see them as a bubble team to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. If you have Ovechkin on your team, look for someone who still believes he is a top player in the NHL and trade him. "Michael Finewax/Yahoo Sports
Finewax suggests trading Ovechkin for William Nylander. We tend to disagree. But it's all good. In the latest ESPN Fantasy Hockey rankings (five days ago), Ovechkin is ranked #22 among all.
Caps fans know not to count out the Great Eight. 31 goals away from Wayne Gretzky at this rapid scoring pace makes it unsafe to count him out in these parts of town. Plus he had two goals in St. Louis after the Caps came up empty the night before.
With 10 goals in 14 games this season, Ovechkin is currently on pace for 58 goals. He's 10 away form 20 and once he reaches it he will tie Ron Francis for the second most 20 goal seasons in NHL history. He can also join Gordie Howe (22) as the second player in NHL history to score 20 plus goals in 20 consecutive seasons.
The Great Eight has scored 33 goals in his last 50 games dating back to Jan. 27, which is an average of 0.66 goals per game. That is tied for the fourth most in the NHL in that stretch.