Is OV a playoff choker?

[Randyne]

Fun fact: Ovechkin's 11 goals and 10 assists in 14 games in 08-09 are more goals and more points than Crosby and Malkin in their 2016 Cup win where Crosby won a Conn Smythe, more goals and more points than both Kane and Toews in their 2013 Cup win where Kane won a Conn Smythe, more than Kopitar in his 2012 Cup win, more goals and assists than Patrice Bergeron in his 2011 Cup win, and more goals and assists than Getzlaf in his 2007 Cup win.

His 11 goals and 10 assists in 14 games would be a career high in playoff goals and points for the following players:

Ryan Getzlaf
Patrice Bergeron
Steven Stamkos
Connor McDavid
Patrick Marleau
Tyler Seguin
Every single player in Washington Capitals history (except for John Druce, who had 14 goals and 3 assists in 15 games in 1990. Outside of Ovechkin's 21 points, the most points by a Washington Capital in the playoffs is 17.)

I only included guys who have made it to the SCF at least.

Great post. Pretty much sum up everything, thanks.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Since 2012
Games 1-4: 36-16-12-28
Games 5-7: 24- 5- 7-12

And guess who has been 26-12-18 in games 5-7 in the same time period?

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Ovechkin has been better than Malkin and Crosby in elimination games over the course of his career.

Scoring is much higher in the first two rounds. Like the poster above pointed out, he hasn't been good in the later games in series.

 

[Quiet Jack]

He is not a playoff choker, but Ill say something: Put either Malkin or Crosby in the Capitals (Ovechkin to PIT) for 2008-2018 and I can guarantee you that the Caps reach the CF at least once.

EDIT: CF = conference finals

Incredible

 

[Nadal On Clay]

Incredible

Elite C > Elite LW

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Since 2012
Games 1-4: 36-16-12-28
Games 5-7: 24- 5- 7-12

And guess who has been 26-12-18 in games 5-7 in the same time period?

Why the cutoff at 2012?

 

[MessierII]

So let me get this straight he scores 50 goals on the regular in 82 games yet in the playoffs he has what? 40 some goals in close to a 100 games. You expect your key guys to step up in the playoffs not get worse.

 

[Quiet Jack]

Elite C > Elite LW

You guaranteed that if you switch ovechkin with 87 or 71 and the Caps reach the finals at least once. "Guaranteed."

I'm still throwing up

 

[Nadal On Clay]

You guaranteed that if you switch ovechkin with 87 or 71 and the Caps reach the finals at least once. "Guaranteed."

I'm still throwing up

Yup, I’m going that far... this is an opinion forum, isn’t it?

 

[MikeK]

No. The NHL is a team sport.

 

[Beau Knows]

One of their other 100+ point forwards would have done it. It was a bad goal by Miller. You do realize that right? A five-hole goal like that never should have happened. USA was just hanging on in OT. It was a matter of time. If Crosby didn't beat him through the five-hole, some other elite super star from Canada would have.

This is pretty sad. It was 8 years ago, you can get over it.

 

[Quiet Jack]

Yup, I’m going that far... this is an opinion forum, isn’t it?

Lol, opinions are now guarantees. You realize you just stated that right?

 

[Nadal On Clay]

Lol, opinions are now guarantees. You realize you just stated that right?

Yes totally, do you have a problem with guarantees?

BTW: It is Confernece Finals, not Finals..

 

[Randyne]

So let me get this straight he scores 50 goals on the regular in 82 games yet in the playoffs he has what? 40 some goals in close to a 100 games. You expect your key guys to step up in the playoffs not get worse.

So why Crosby allowed to get worse in PO but Ovechkin not? In PO teams play against each other for a long run and each team knows which player to shutdown (also shutting down one star easier than two).
2005-2016 Top 6 players by points in RS
P/GP regular season -> playoffs
Alex Ovechkin 1.12 -> 0.93; –0.19 P/GP
Sidney Crosby 1.31 -> 1.11; –0.20 P/GP
Joe Thornton 1.04 -> 0.84; –0.20 P/GP
Henrik Sedin 0.94 -> 0.84; –0.10 P/GP
Daniel Sedin 0.92 -> 0.82; –0.10 P/GP
Evgeni Malkin 1.18 -> 1.05; –0.13 P/GP

 

[Pilky01]

Winners win.

Ovechkin’s biggest accomplishment is the annual World Championship.

 

[BBB24]

Absolutely not, he is a star. The playoffs are a different game, without his teammates picking it up, opponents only need to defend Ovi

 

[hb12xchamps]

he definitely chocked last year, that's for sure. Guy was a liability in a D-zone in game 7 last year..

Yeah and we found out why after the series was over when his wife posted the gross picture in the article below. Guess we can thank Kadri for that low hit

Nastya Ovechkina shares grotesque photo of a bruise on Alex Ovechkin's leg

 

[412 Others]

there's really no amount of excuses or context that lessen how bad the lack of team success looks for ovechkin. multiple presidents trophy winning teams. can't get past round 2. to say now, 'well, he's not supported by a team built for the playoffs' is laughable. at what point is the one dimensional #8 considered 'not built for the playoffs'?

 

[ovikovy817]

recap of the thread
Pens fans saying yes
Normal other fans saying no