Capitals coach Spencer Carbery calls out Alex Ovechkin

Unsurprisingly, the Rangers have clinched victory in both games at Madison Square Garden, securing a two-game series lead over the Caps. Game 2 remained competitive until the final minutes of play. Notably absent from the scoresheet in this brief series is none other than Capitals' captain, Alex Ovechkin. He has been limited to just one shot on goal and has yet to tally any points.

And not surprisingly, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery isn't shying away from calling out the team icon for his lack of production. 

“I thought in the first two games he looks a little bit off, he’s struggling,’’ Carbery said. “It’s hard. It’s the playoffs, on the road. He’s getting a tough matchup.

“But it’s two games. We’re going back home and we’ll get an opportunity to be able to control the matchups for him, and he can flip it. That’s one thing about him. He can flip it in one game and all of a sudden be a difference-maker and help us win a game and be a driving force on winning us a game on home ice.’’

If the Capitals are to have any realistic shot at beating the Rangers, they're going to need more out of Ovechkin, who isn't getting the "looks" that he typically gets during a game. 

“There’s two things that I notice when he’s struggling — he’s not getting [chances]," Carbery continued. "He should on a nightly basis get four or five looks, whether they go in or not.

“He’s not getting those looks. Whether that’s a product of his matchups or a product of the line combinations, we’ve got to find a way to get him in spots where it’s him and [Rangers goalie Igor] Shesterkin.