You can never start the same story twice. The wise and inspiring words of Éric Lapointe applied to Alex Ovechkin until very recently.
Until Wednesday, in fact. After 1,349 games in the National League, he had never gone two games in a row without getting a single shot on goal. Then, on Wednesday, in Ottawa, in his 1350th game, the counter stopped at zero. Just like two days earlier against the Flames.
Response from the main person concerned, after training on Friday in Brossard on the eve of the duel against the Canadian: “Everything happens the first time, you know! »
Taken in isolation, the statistic of games without shots is anecdotal. This has only happened to him 19 times in his career, including once in a match that he left after just one appearance.
Except that Ovechkin still hasn’t scored after three games, he’s had to settle for a small pass, and at 38, every slump will come with questions about his age. Those doubts cast a shadow over both the Capitals’ chances of remaining competitive and Ovechkin’s chances of scoring the 72 goals needed to tie Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. In a column published this week, colleague Martin Leclerc brilliantly explained how aging threatens Ovechkin, using statistics.
Here’s one more. There have been 141 complete seasons (60 games or more) of forwards aged 38 or older in the NHL since the 1967 expansion. Of the lot, only five times have the player scored 0.44 goals per game, or the pace needed for a 36-goal season. Thirty-six goals, because Ovechkin needs two seasons like that to join Gretzky.
His shot still seems effective, if we rely on the goal he scored on a lightning shot during a three-on-two drill in training on Friday. He still needs to be able to release it in a match situation.
“It’s all a question of time,” says forward Anthony Mantha. We’re not worried. It’s been, what, 10 times in his career that he hasn’t had a shot? He could very well score a hat trick tomorrow [Saturday], and we won’t talk about it anymore. »
“It’s worrying, for sure,” admitted Washington’s new head coach, Spencer Carbery. In preparatory matches, in camp, we were in a good position, we were healthy. It’s worrying and frustrating not to know the expected departure. The players are not happy, neither is the coaching staff, so we are looking for solutions. »
Carbery seems serious in his quest for solutions. In practice on Friday, he paired Ovechkin with Dylan Strome, but especially Matthew Phillips.
The average fan would be forgiven for not knowing about Phillips, a 25-year-old forward and sixth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2016 who has six NHL games in total, including three this fall.
Except that this Phillips dominated at all other levels. He had 50- and 48-goal seasons in the Western Junior League (WHL), and is coming off 31- and 36-goal campaigns (in 65 and 66 games) with the Flames’ farm club. .
His problem: He’s 5’8 and 160 pounds, numbers that seemed realistic when the young man stood in front of us in the locker room in Brossard. On a club with 11 players 6’3 or taller, Phillips is ironically hard to miss.
“There’s one that brings the average down! joked Mantha, standing at 6’5.
“He’s skilled, he’s fast, he turns on a 10-cent,” continued the former Val-d’Or Foreurs. He looks a bit like Johnny Gaudreau, I think. If you give him confidence, he could do the same style of play. He places the puck perfectly on his shots, he finds the passing lines. Look at his stick: it’s a foot and a half shorter than the other sticks on the rack! »
Phillips was stuck in the Flames’ affiliates; six months later, here he is alongside the best sniper of the 21st century in the NHL. “It’s pretty crazy, it’s a complete turnaround. It’s a great opportunity,” admitted the Albertan.
We would pinch ourselves for less than that.
Like many players of his size, Matthew Phillips draws inspiration from his peers. In addition to Pavel Datsyuk, the Capitals winger names Martin St-Louis among his idols. “I wore the 26 in his honor,” he says. It helps when you have other little players to take inspiration from. I always liked the way they played, their creativity, their ability to think on the ice, to be intelligent to create plays. » Johnny Gaudreau also comes to mind, first because Anthony Mantha mentioned his name, then because as a former Flames prospect, Phillips has often seen him play, especially last year, when the school club was repatriated to the Alberta metropolis. “There are aspects of his game that I try to incorporate into mine, that I watched while I was in Calgary. He scores a lot and creates offense, even without necessarily having the most powerful shot. »
The last time Anthony Mantha set foot at the Bell Center, he came away four points richer. It was April 16, 2022 and the Capitals had pounded the Habs 8-4. The Quebecer was then part of the club’s top three trios and performed accordingly. However, things have gotten worse for André Pronovost’s grandson since then. Last year, he was limited to 27 points in 67 games, performances that earned him a few visits to the bridge. He suffered the same fate from the second match this season, despite the change of coach. “Of course it’s not the start you want, but I continue to work hard,” said the big number 39. “My mind is in the right place at the moment. As soon as I get my chance, I’m going to jump on it and I’m going to take it. »
The definition of “being lucky” is important. In training on Friday, Mantha formed a trio with Beck Malenstyn and Aliaksei Protas. Some might argue that being paired with Malenstyn, an energy player who never scored more than 16 points in a season in the American League, isn’t necessarily “luck” for an offensive player. Mantha’s response: “I’d rather be in that role than be in the stands, right? I will try to play that role as best as I can, and if there is a penalty, an injury and I have a chance to play up top, I will take it and I will not let it go. »
Mantha, however, is completing his last year of contract. For the Capitals, he’s not the best investment at $5.7 million to play a limited role. And the Longueillois will not negotiate from a position of strength if his purgatory were to continue. “The season is long,” he recalled. 82 games ago, we’re on game number 4. I’m trying not to think about it too much right now. »
