It has been one heck of a start to the season for the Washington Capitals. In more ways than one really.
Overall, the team has had a great amount of success. Nineteen games into the season they are fighting for first place in the division. Currently the Capitals are 13-5-1, good for 27 points. The record and point total puts them third in the Metropolitan Division, but they are just one point back of both New Jersey and Carolina who are tied for first with 28 points each.
Offensively this is a team that's been on fire all season. They have scored 79 goals so far in the year. Only one team has scored more and that would be the Winnipeg Jets, who by the way, are off to a 16-3 start. They have scored 80 goals on the year.
This is a good looking Capitals team. Obviously, the reason the team is playing so well is because you have a lot of players on the team who are playing well. This year it hasn't been one line that has been hot or carrying the offense. It's not the defense that has been suffocating and not allowing anything. It's not that the goaltenders are unbeatable. It really is kind of everyone pulling their own weight.
While a lot of players have played pretty good, some have played a little bit better. That's what we'll be showing off here today. Who are three of the Capitals "Most Valuable Players" at the 1/4 mark of the season?
Alex Ovechkin
The Man. The Myth. The Legend at this point.
I and I think a lot of other people out there have basically been saying the same thing about "The Gr8" for a few years now. At some point you have to be expecting regression. But at the same time, if Alex Ovechkin scored 40 or 50 goals in a year would you be surprised? You shouldn't be.
Ovechkin started the season scoring 15 goals in 18 games. That puts the 39-year-old on pace for a 68 goal season, if he were to play all 82 games. Which unfortunately we now know that isn't going to happen.
At this point what do you want me to say? What can you say?
He's leading the team (and tied for the lead in the entire league) in goal scoring and it's not because other guys can't score. We already showed you that the team overall is 2nd in goal scoring this season. He's 2nd on the team in individual chances for with 58 chances. Even at his "advanced age" if you will, he is still a guy who is going out there and throwing his weight around. He's 2nd in hits on the team with 44, behind only Tom Wilson and his 54 hits.
Ovechkin has finally gotten injured. Just a couple of games ago he banged knees with a Utah player and it's an injury that will keep him out weeks, 4-6 is what is expected. It will be interesting to see what he can do when he gets back. Does this linger? Who knows.
The start of his season was outstanding and amazing to watch. The all time goals scored record is getting ready to fall. Hopefully this injury doesn't stop that from happening this season. Because at the pace he was on he was getting ready to race past it.