The Ever-Improving Alex Ovechkin
by J.P. on Dec 27, 2008 11:24 AM EST
8 comments
Remember how good - how historically good - Alex Ovechkin's 2007-08 season was? Of course you do. And with that in mind, take note: he may having a better 2008-09.
Ovechkin, who had 65 goals, 47 assists and a plus-28 rating a season ago is now on pace for 55 goals, 57 assists and a plus-26 rating. But let's dig a little deeper. First, a look at some five-on-five numbers (prior to last night's game):
That assist differential pops, as do the Goals For and Goals Against and a 28% bump in Corsi. The bottom line here is that AO is creating more goals and allowing fewer, per sixty minutes of even strength time.
Now on to AO's five-on-four numbers:
Here, AO's goals are down a bit (he led the League in power play tallies a year ago), but his points per sixty are way up - from 4.55 to 5.71, and his Goals For per sixty are up 42%... and all of this with Mike Green and Alex Semin missing huge chunks of time.
In addition to the numbers above, AO is getting ice time on the penalty kill (1:13 per game, up from the nine seconds he got last year) and is averaging a full hit more per game (3.68 to 2.68).
The most important stat, of course, is that despite all of the injuries, inconsistent goaltending and slow starts, the Caps are now second in the Eastern Conference. Second. And that's due in no small part to Alex Ovechkin becoming an even better-rounded hockey player than he was last season. Amazing, ain't it?
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….and, he’s done it with virtual double and triple teams, facing the opponents top pair. Cripes, when we get healthy, look out
by bigonetimer on Dec 27, 2008 11:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
What was that Don Cherry said about AO at the beginning of the season? That his numbers would come WAY down? Grapes goes oops.
by TylerG on Dec 27, 2008 12:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
no, no, no.
Cherry must have mean they would go WAY down…to a new depth of fantastic play!
He just left that second part out. Enjoy a living legend growing up and getting better right before your eyes, Caps fans!
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
by John Fischer on Dec 27, 2008 8:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
never mind Cherry
he’s drunk on Canadian…Club
by bigonetimer on Dec 27, 2008 11:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You need to appreciate Don Cherry in the same way you like hearing your loudmouthed xenophobic uncle tell drunken war stories.
Laugh along with Don, don’t pay attention to his analysis of hockey.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Dec 28, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
1) As the fans properly chanted after another hilite goal last night: MVP, MVP!
by Fauxrumors on Dec 27, 2008 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ok, so I just want to make sure here
I’ve read over this multiple times, so I’m not sure if I’m seeing a typo or what. Are Ovie’s assists/60 minutes in 5-on-5 down from 1.32 to 0.92 this year? If so, kind of amazing that the GF on ice numbers have jumped the way that they have. Is that supposed to be a 1.92?
by grapejoos on Dec 29, 2008 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Good catch – there was a typo there. Basically, I forgot to add his secondary assists.
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 22 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
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|
Atlanta
|
12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 |
|
Florida
|
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|
Carolina
|
15 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
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