Valery Kamensky, a former Stanley Cup champion, weighed in on Alexander Ovechkin’s recent resurgence, noting that the Washington Capitals star looks like his old self again. Kamensky, speaking to Sports Express, highlighted how the break for the All-Star Game acted as a reset for the forward. He observed that the midseason pause allowed Ovechkin to recover, recharge, and return with fresh energy and a clearer mindset. In Kamensky’s view, the combination of rest, positive vibes, and a seamless recovery from minor injuries translated into a noticeably sharper performance on the ice. He cautioned, however, that maintaining form would depend on avoiding injury setbacks and keeping the body in peak condition. Still, Kamensky’s confident assessment is that Ovechkin is back to playing the game at a high level, and as long as health holds, the Capitals’ leading scorer should continue to contribute at the rate fans have come to expect. (Sports Express)
On the night of February 21, local time, the Capitals delivered a dominant performance at home, defeating the New Jersey Devils 6-2 at Capital One Arena in Washington. Ovechkin was a central figure in the victory, recording a goal with an assist and adding to his growing tally of points this season. That win marked the ninth game in which the 38-year-old forward tallied a point, underscoring his enduring impact and consistency as a veteran presence on a team loaded with young talent. The performance was widely interpreted as a signal that Ovechkin is not merely skating through the season but actively driving plays and producing offense in key moments. (Sports Express)
This season, Ovechkin has amassed 41 points in 51 NHL regular-season games, combining 16 goals with 25 assists. The tally places him within striking distance of a historic milestone in the annals of league scoring. With Wayne Gretzky’s career total standing at 894 goals, Ovechkin’s current total sits at 838, narrowing the gap by 56 goals. The conversation around all-time leading scorers has grown louder, especially among Canadian and American hockey communities that follow every game with close attention. Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s goals mark is a storyline that resonates beyond national borders, reflecting the broader narrative of longevity, elite scoring, and the ever-evolving landscape of the game. (Sports Express)
Earlier in the season, there was chatter about a potential return to the NHL’s center stage for the Russian star who once dazzled fans in European leagues and became synonymous with a generation of powerful, goal-scoring wingers. The discussions reflected ongoing speculation about how a veteran like Ovechkin could adapt to a league increasingly influenced by analytics, pace, and a deeper, more versatile forward lineup. These conversations, heard across hockey media in North America, underscore the ongoing interest in whether a player of Ovechkin’s caliber can sustain peak performance amid a changing competitive environment. (Sports Express)