In a stunning turn of events, Alex Ovechkin, the legendary left winger, has shifted to the right side for the Washington Capitals’ upcoming game against the Vegas Golden Knights. This move has sparked speculation as Ovechkin, now 39, continues to chase Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record.
More than a decade ago, Ovechkin won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP during his first season playing right wing, a position he transitioned to from his usual spot on the left. His performance was outstanding, scoring a league-best 51 goals the following year.
“I’ll take it right now,” Ovechkin quipped, showcasing his typical confidence in his abilities. The Capitals, too, are hoping this adjustment will provide a much-needed boost to the team.
Coach Spencer Carbery downplayed the significance of the shift, citing it as a move to balance out the lineup. “I find him on both sides of the ice a lot, and so left, right, it’s not a huge deal to me,” Carbery said.
Ovechkin himself made light of the situation, joking, “Maybe I’m going to play goalie.” However, the goaltending duties will be handled by Logan Thompson as the Capitals face the Golden Knights.
Following a 5-3 loss to New Jersey in the opener, Carbery made the decision to move Aliaksei Protas to the top-line left wing, Ovechkin’s usual position. The Capitals are in a period of adjustment with new faces on the team, trying to find the right chemistry and combinations for success.
Ovechkin has experience playing right wing in the past, most notably during the lockout-shortened 2013 season and under coach Adam Oates in 2013-14. Despite a rough start with only five goals in his first 16 games in that position, Ovechkin finished strong with 27 goals in his final 32 games to lead Washington to the playoffs.
“I have experience to play there, but it was a long time (ago),” Ovechkin reflected. “You start on the left or right, it doesn’t matter because in the game you’re coming from offensive zone to (the defensive) zone and you stay on the right side. So, play basically most of the time there — left or right.”
As Ovechkin embarks on this new chapter playing right wing once again, Capitals fans are eager to see how this change will impact his performance on the ice as he continues his remarkable career.