Did Ovi carry the Capitals to the playoffs this year?

[wetcoast]

I seldom think that any one player carries any team to the playoffs but creating this thread for the guy that believes the thread title people can make the case for/against in a good natured way.

Also the other Ovi thread can stick to it's topic which is Ovi's quest for Gretzky's record and not get sidetracked as much.

Click to read more...

 

[Dingo]

ya, i dont think so. Romantically speaking, it was fun to see him catch fire as far as goalscoring the second half of the year at 38. Realistically, he was one of the key players on a team that squeeked in, and the less than key players also count into the equation.

 

[DRW895]

15 of 31 goals were in March-April, so you can choose any option to vote except "no"

 

[John Price]

no lindgren did

 

[I am not exposed]

More to do with the performance of Lindgren

 

[Fear]

15 of 31 goals were in March-April, so you can choose any option to vote except "no"

Goals in October count the same as goals in March ....

He scored 31 goals on the season and doesn't do much else anymore. That's not carrying anyone anywhere

 

[Mickey Marner]

Good fortune carried them. Their -36 goal differential is the worst by a playoff team since the Whalers were -36 in 1991-92, when 16/22 teams made the playoffs.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

No individual player in this sport is responsible for team success, and the only position that can even come close to that argument is goaltender (but it’s still not that close). That applies to Ovi this year and Gretzky in his prime.

 

[Felidae]

Carlson and Lindgren had better seasons, so no.

 

[Beau Knows]

You could argue he was their MVP in the regular season. But his performance wasn't so far above his teammates or his peers that saying he "carried them" is justified.

 

[Despote]

He was ass this year. Probably net negative considering his poirous defensive impact.

 

[Michael Farkas]

The Caps were 21st in the NHL in pts% over the last month of the season (tie game ENG litigation notwithstanding) and Ovechkin was 73rd in points during that time.

The Caps got in because Philadelphia (historically) and Detroit collapsed...it didn't really have to do with their play, which changed little.

 

[Canadiens Ghost]

Lindgren

 

[biturbo19]

No.

John Tortorella did.

 

[powerbomb]

15 of 31 goals were in March-April, so you can choose any option to vote except "no"

They had 13 wins and 11 losses in March-April, with a goal differential of -4 in that window so… not exactly a team that was surging to the finish line, ergo it wasn’t a team that was being “carried” anywhere.

This is how they looked entering the playoffs!

 

[moropanov]

Hmm might have been theyr worst player in value on ice.. no matter goal count. Arguably better team if he didnt exist.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

Was this thread created just to be a lightning rod for Ovie and Caps critics? I don't see the point here.

 

[Miro4Norris]

Lol dumbest poll I've seen for a while. 30-30 player, with no defense and 10 mil salary? Did Matt Duchene carry Stars to the playoffs?

 

[ovikovy817]

So many haters.

If not Ovi and Lindgren this team would be battling for 1st overall pick.

 

[DRW895]

So many haters.

If not Ovi and Lindgren this team would be battling for 1st overall pick.

Right now 53,1 % are worse NHL experts than N. Klark or D. Mironova. It`s sad

 

[Baksfamous112]

Ovy was terrible this year. Garbage & lazy all year long.

 

[Nadal On Clay]

It marvels me that people can’t see that Lindgren is actually the one who played out of his mind for the Caps playoff push. Has OV even been a PPG player for any 20 games stretch this year?

 

[Dingo]

Hmm might have been theyr worst player in value on ice.. no matter goal count. Arguably better team if he didnt exist.

nooooo

 

[Mike C]

no lindgren did

Duel effort

 

[tyhee]

Emotionally it would be nice to say that at 38 the marvel that is Ovechkin carried his team, but no matter how favourably one views his scoring to his team's importance it seems to me that Lindgren and Carlson (at the very least) were both better and more important to the team. I vote No.