From That Viral Smile To Being The Underdog, Alex Ovechkin Relishing Every Moment As He Preps For 15th Stanley Cup Playoff Run

ARLINGTON V.A. — A sly smile as time ticked down in Philadelphia was louder than words for Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, as he watched proudly from the bench as his team successfully clinched a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It marks D.C.'s return to postseason play after missing out altogether last season, and it will be Ovechkin's 15th go in the playoffs.

"That's why we're fighting all year, for that spot," Ovechkin said. "It's a fun time. This group, there's been ups and downs, trades, all the situations, and we fight through it and we make it to the playoffs. That's the most important thing for us."

Ovechkin himself overcame quite a bit to help his team make that last push. After managing just eight goals in the first 43 games of the season, he hit reset during the All-Star Break in Dubai and came back with a vengeance, managing 22 goals — the fifth most among NHL skaters since Jan. 29 — and 12 assists in 35 games.

"You have to battle, you have to fight for it," Ovechkin said of returning to goal-scoring form. "It's pretty nice when you get in and help the team win."

Related: Charlie Lindgren & His Brother, Ryan, Setting Boundaries Ahead Of Capitals-Rangers Playoff Series: 'Talk To You After Round 1'

He finished with his record-setting 18th 30-goal campaign, while proving critics wrong and helping his team draw back into the race.

"His play in the last three months has been amazing. I know for the guys in the room, it wasn't a really a question of if, it was a question of when O was goning to start getting hot here," T.J. Oshie said. "Sure enough, it happened."

Beyond the work he put in though, the 38-year-old, who is entering the twilight of his career and working toward Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, is also having fun again.

"The chemistry we have right now in our locker room is tremendous," Ovechkin said. "Everybody knows their roles, what they have to do and we all enjoy the time and we all have fun."

Ovechkin's attitude, leadership and will power on and off the ice have boded well for the rag-tag group, and the vibes are high as the team feeds off of the captain's energy going into Game 1 against the New York Rangers.

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"You saw the smile," Dylan Strome grinned. "That's kind of what were all feeling. He has some great reactions to good moments, throughout the season, and he's excited."

"We drive through No. 8, and if he's buzzing, we're buzzing," Oshie added. "He pulls us into the fight."

Washington kicks off its first-round series at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Ovechkin and his group are taking on the roles of the underdogs, and though it's not exactly the position a team wants to be in going against the Presidents' Trophy winners, it's one that the Russian is looking forward to playing.

"We all understand how we have to play, what kind of team new York is going to be," Ovechkin said. "We're just going to play it game by game and see what happens."