Bruce Boudreau sounds off on Alex Oveckin's struggles

The Washington Capitals have not had a good time so far in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as their reward for being the team that finally emerged from the tightly packed race for the final Wild Card postseason spot in the Eastern Conference was a date with the President's Trophy-winning New York Rangers. 

The Rangers won both games at Madison Square Garden and head to the American capitol city firmly in control ahead of tonight's Game 3 at Capital One Arena. But there's one notable absence so far in the series on the scoresheet that have many worried about Washington's chances. 

Alex Ovechkin has yet to register a point in either of the first two games, and was even publicly called out for his lack of production by head coach Spencer Carbery. Fans will remember that it took the Great 8 a long time to get going during the regular season, as he tallied only eight goals in his first 43 games before returning to form and finishing with 31. 

And now, Ovechkin's former head coach from 2007 to 2012 in Bruce Boudreau is weighing in on the future Hall of Fame forward's struggles.

"Maybe he can’t do it at 38 anymore where he can’t crash, bang and do it with the energy that he used to do it," Boudreau said to The Athletic.

"But he’s standing still getting pucks, and when he’s standing still getting pucks, the Rangers are too quick. They come at you too fast. So he doesn’t have time to get out of the way."

Boudreau then stated his belief that Ovechkin was simply not engaged mentally and that his frustration is palpable.

“So, to me, he's not engaged mentally right now. He wants to be, but he's not because he's frustrated and things aren't going the way he wants them to go."

Can the Capitals cut into New York's lead when they gather for Game 3 tonight? 

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