Alexander Ovechkin is on fire.
After scoring a hat-trick, plus a bonus shoot-out goal in the opening game victory against the Senators, the arguably beset goal scorer in NHL history put in four goals against the Habs on Saturday night.
And he didn't just score seven goals in his first two games, he scored six of them in 12 minutes of ice time. In back-to-back periods.
Insane.
He's shooting 50% and so some good luck is obviously coming his way, but......wow. Only three other players have ever scored hattricks in back-to-back periods.
What's crazy, is that the Ovechkin/Kuznetsov line has only been a 46% possession line through the first two games, so while they're scoring a ton, they're not really dominating.
Still, it's a historic outburst and Ovechkin is playing like a man possessed. Hopefully he can keep it up and the Capitals won't suffer the massive setback their terrible summer foretold, but as of yet, I am unconvinced. They'll have to do more than squeak by the Senators and beat the Habs before I am a believer.
A big test will come tonight against what should be their toughest test yet: a game against the Lightning.
The Lightning have been garbage so far this year, however. They controlled only 35% of the play in two games against the Panthers so far, and were lucky to escape with a 1-1 record.
Both teams have a lot to prove, and an Ovechkin/Kuznetsov vs Stamkos/Kucherov is a must-watch game.
The Capitals will start Grubaur tonight.
Thanks for reading.