Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
October 5, 2017 - The summer of 2017 had been an offseason of question marks for the Washington Capitals. After back-to-back seasons as the NHL's top regular season team which both ended unceremoniously at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, the Caps were forced to make several key changes. With several contracts expiring decisions had to be made. Gone were key players such as Justin Williams, Marcus Johansson, Nate Schmidt, and Karl Alzner. Their replacements were unproven rookies and role players, leaving doubts as to whether or not they could make up for the lost talent. Oddly, despite the Capitals 118-point regular season the year prior, Alex Ovechkin had an uncharacteristic down year. After three straight 50+ goal seasons, the Great 8's production slipped down to just 33 goals and 69 points, both the second-worst mark of his career at the time. Entering his age 32 season, some wondered if last season had been the beginning of the end for Ovechkin, who along with the lower production had just looked slower and less dynamic overall. Not everyone was so down on Ovechkin, however. Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan said he felt that 33 was a minimum for the Capitals captain, and expected more. After all, similar things had been said about Ovechkin in the early 2010s after a couple down years, only for him to return to form and lead the league in goals four years in a row. Ovechkin came into camp looking noticeably lighter, hinting at a re-energized version of himself.
In the season opener in Ottawa, Ovechkin silenced the doubters about as well as he possibly could. Trailing 3-1 in the 3rd period, Ovechkin put the Caps on his back with 2 goals in 1 minute and 23 seconds. Then, with the Caps trailing 4-3, Ovechkin completed the hat trick to tie the game again. In the shootout, Ovi would score one more time to help the Capitals come away with the win. And in case a hat trick wasn't enough to silence his critics, his next game would put to rest any remaining doubts one could possibly have - youtu.be/1oVYgVyDOTg
- 1st Period -
0:00 - Intro
0:38 - Caps GM Brian MacLellan's thoughts on Ovechkin's previous season
1:05 - Sets up Vrana for chance
1:16 - Shot block and physical battle against Dion Phaneuf
- 2nd Period -
1:50 - Shot off post
- 3rd Period -
2:07 - Goal #1
3:09 - Goal #2
4:44 - Goal #3, 18th career hat trick
- Overtime -
6:05 - Shot
- Shootout -
6:30 - Shootout goal
7:02 - Kuznetsov game-winning goal
More classic Ovechkin games - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH8bFa0t7qpQfBYEXybnEr9NbAqFcPyyq
October 5, 2017 - The summer of 2017 had been an offseason of question marks for the Washington Capitals. After back-to-back seasons as the NHL's top regular season team which both ended unceremoniously at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, the Caps were forced to make several key changes. With several contracts expiring decisions had to be made. Gone were key players such as Justin Williams, Marcus Johansson, Nate Schmidt, and Karl Alzner. Their replacements were unproven rookies and role players, leaving doubts as to whether or not they could make up for the lost talent. Oddly, despite the Capitals 118-point regular season the year prior, Alex Ovechkin had an uncharacteristic down year. After three straight 50+ goal seasons, the Great 8's production slipped down to just 33 goals and 69 points, both the second-worst mark of his career at the time. Entering his age 32 season, some wondered if last season had been the beginning of the end for Ovechkin, who along with the lower production had just looked slower and less dynamic overall. Not everyone was so down on Ovechkin, however. Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan said he felt that 33 was a minimum for the Capitals captain, and expected more. After all, similar things had been said about Ovechkin in the early 2010s after a couple down years, only for him to return to form and lead the league in goals four years in a row. Ovechkin came into camp looking noticeably lighter, hinting at a re-energized version of himself.
In the season opener in Ottawa, Ovechkin silenced the doubters about as well as he possibly could. Trailing 3-1 in the 3rd period, Ovechkin put the Caps on his back with 2 goals in 1 minute and 23 seconds. Then, with the Caps trailing 4-3, Ovechkin completed the hat trick to tie the game again. In the shootout, Ovi would score one more time to help the Capitals come away with the win. And in case a hat trick wasn't enough to silence his critics, his next game would put to rest any remaining doubts one could possibly have - youtu.be/1oVYgVyDOTg
- 1st Period -
0:00 - Intro
0:38 - Caps GM Brian MacLellan's thoughts on Ovechkin's previous season
1:05 - Sets up Vrana for chance
1:16 - Shot block and physical battle against Dion Phaneuf
- 2nd Period -
1:50 - Shot off post
- 3rd Period -
2:07 - Goal #1
3:09 - Goal #2
4:44 - Goal #3, 18th career hat trick
- Overtime -
6:05 - Shot
- Shootout -
6:30 - Shootout goal
7:02 - Kuznetsov game-winning goal
More classic Ovechkin games - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH8bFa0t7qpQfBYEXybnEr9NbAqFcPyyq
