Ovechkin held off scoresheet again, Caps fall into 2-0 hole - ESPN

NEW YORK — Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said his star captain Alex Ovechkin is «struggling» in their opening round playoff series against the New York Rangers.

«I thought the first two games he looks a little bit off. He's struggling. It's hard. It's the playoffs, on the road. He's getting a tough matchup,» Carbery said after the Capitals' 4-3 loss in Game 2 on Tuesday night, to go down 2-0 in the series.

Ovechkin, 38, doesn't have a point in the series. He registered his first and only shot on goal in Game 2. But it was his turnover on the power play that led to the Rangers' eventual game-winning shorthanded goal and was Ovechkin's most glaring misstep in the loss.

With the Rangers leading 3-2, Ovechkin took a cross-ice pass from center Connor McMichael near the Capitals' defensive zone. The puck hit the boards and as Ovechkin attempted to play it down the ice, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad stole it, finding defenseman K'Andre Miller for a shorthanded goal with 3:09 left in the second period.

«It was a weird bounce,» Ovechkin said. «I think Zibanejad played stick-on-stick. It was lucky, but I have to play safer. Especially in that kind of moment.»

Carbery said it looked like Ovechkin was «surprised» by the defensive pressure after receiving the pass.

The Capitals coach said there are a few telltale signs for Ovechkin being off his game that Carbery has witnessed in the Rangers series.

«At 5-on-5 and the power play, he should get four or five looks on a nightly basis, whether they go in or not. He's not getting those looks,» Carbery said. «Whether that's a product of his matchup, whether that's a product of his line combination, whether he's playing a role in that [himself], we've got to find a way to get