Alexander Ovechkin

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Washington Capitals' Troy Brouwer (20), Alex Ovechkin (8), and Dennis Wideman (6) celebrate a goal earlier this preseason. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Alex Ovechkin is seeking a return to form this season, saying, "My goal is to score goals, create some dangerous moments and find my partners so they find moments to score goals." (Associated Press)

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Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times BUILDING A WINNER: Washington Capitals GM George McPhee, in the locker room at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, started rebuilding the team with Alex Ovechkin in the 2004 draft. Since then, he has added the pieces needed to make the team a consistent winner. Video, washingtontimes.com/multimedia.

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Right wing Mike Knuble (from left), left wing Alex Ovechkin and center Nicklas Backstrom constitute the bulk of the firepower on the Capitals' top two lines and serve as the foundation for leadership. They again will be counted on to provide ample offense as Washington takes aim at its first Stanley Cup. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin was benched in the last minute of regulation against the Anaheim Ducks, and was shown to be visibly upset on the bench. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Alex Ovechkin flips a puck to the fans after the Capitals 3-1 win over the Rangers in game five of the first round playoff series, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Saturday, April 23, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Alex Ovechkin (8) of the Washington Capitals gets welcomed as he comes out for warm ups before preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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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)