Alexander Ovechkin

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Captain Alex Ovechkin contemplates the Capitals' second-round defeat while Brooks Laich looks on as streamers fall from the rafters at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Washington has yet to advance as far as the conference finals in the Ovechkin era. (Associated Press)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reacts after his season ended as the Caps lost Game 7 of the second-round series to the New York Rangers, 2-1, on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) tries to take a shot on goal after falling on the ice in the third period as the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in game six of the NHL eastern conference playoffs semifinals at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 9, 2012 (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin cuts up ice in the first period as the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series at Verizon Center in Washington, on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi fights for the puck against Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, during the first period of Game 4 of an NHL Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Fans of Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) wear cutouts of his number in the second period as the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in playoff NHL hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), center, congratulates Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74), right, for his goal on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) to even the score 1-1 in the second period as the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in playoff NHL hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), left, and New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18), right, collide hard in the first period as the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in playoff NHL hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), left, and Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin (28) pump each other up during warm ups before the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in playoff NHL hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin played only 13:36 on Monday night, but he did have the game-winning goal in the 3-2 Game 2 second-round series victory over the New York Rangers. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Left wing Alex Ovechkin is tied with Brooks Laich for the team lead in postseason scoring with five points, but more is needed from the Capitals' captain. (Associated Press)

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Jason Chimera (25) of the Washington Capitals (center) is congratulated by teammates Alex Ovechkin (8) and Alexander Semin (28) after scoring against the Boston Bruins to tie the score at 2 in the second period of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 6 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 22, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, left, is hit by Boston Bruins' Dennis Seidenberg during the second period of Game 5 in a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey series in Boston Saturday, April 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)