Alexander Ovechkin

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Left wing Alex Ovechkin (left) scored 32 goals last season, but just seven came with the Capitals on the power play. Washington was a combined 6 for 68 with the man advantage in the playoffs the past two seasons. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Alex Ovechkin (8) of the Washington Capitals argues a call with a referee in the final seconds of the Washington Capitals loss to the Nashville Predators, 2-0, in a preseason exhibition game at the 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD, Tuesday, September 20, 2011. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Alex Ovechkin (8) of the Washington Capitals slams Ryan Ellis (49) of the Nashville Predators into the wall in the second period of the Washington Capitals loss to the Nashville Predators, 2-0, in a preseason exhibition game at the 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD, Tuesday, September 20, 2011. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, battles for the puck against Nashville Predators' Teemu Laakso, center, of Finland, and Chris Mueller, right, during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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**FILE ** Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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The Washington Capitals are counting on Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom, Brooks Laich and Alex Ovechkin to become leaders this season. Do they have what it takes? (Green: Joseph Silverman/The Washington Times), (Backstrom: AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek), (Laich: Associated Press Photographs), (Ovechkin: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, from Russia, looks to shoot the puck in the second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series with the New York Rangers Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Alex Ovechkin's thunderous hit on Jaromir Jagr during Russia's game against the Czech Republic was the highlight-reel hit of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Jagr, a former Capital, is returning to the NHL to play for the rival Flyers.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin was held to two goals and two assists in Washington's four-game sweep by Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Capitals haven't escaped the second round in the past four seasons.

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Capitals player Alex Ovechkin talks with the media at the Kettler Ice Complex in Arlington on Thursday, May 5, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Capitals player Alex Ovechkin talks with the media at the Kettler Ice Complex in Arlington on Thursday, May 5, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Capitals player Alex Ovechkin talks with the media at the Kettler Ice Complex in Arlington on Thursday, May 5, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Capitals player Alex Ovechkin emerges from the locker room on his way to talk with the media at the Kettler Ice Complex in Arlington on Thursday, May 5, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin dives for the puck in front of the Lightning's Teddy Purcell during the second period of Game 4. The Lightning won 5-3 to sweep the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, pauses before getting up after running into the goal while attempting a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning late in the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff Eastern Conference semifinal series in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Tampa Bay won 5-3, and swept the series. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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Alex Ovechkin

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and Capitals teammates celebrated the overtime goal by Jason Chimera (not pictured) in Game 4 against the New York Rangers. Washington won both games in the series that went longer than regulation time.

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The Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrated with Nicklas Backstrom (left) and Brooks Laich after scoring to put Washington up 2-0 against the Rangers on Saturday. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) watches as Brandon Dubinsky's (back left) game-winning shot flies over the left shoulder of Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth in the third period of the New York Rangers' 3-2 victory in Game 3 of their first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, April 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz (55) and Mike Knuble (center) celebrate with teammate Alex Ovechkin (right) in the second period of Game 3 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, April 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)