Ovechkin becomes even more dangerous

The NHL's top scorer has picked up the pace since his big contract.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Published February 16, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Alex Ovechkin celebrates one of his 48 goals with high-scoring defenseman Mike Green.

Superstar Alex Ovechkin is not one to get comfortable, though the Capitals did their best by signing him to a league-record 13-year, $124-million contract.

The left wing, who faces the Lightning tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum, has 16 goals and 26 points in 16 games since signing the deal.

In his third season, the league's top scorer (78 points) also is first with 48 goals and 17 power-play goals and is getting serious consideration for MVP.

"He's always just skating," Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle said. "He just seems to always keep his legs going. With him skating forward and us skating backward, I like his chances. He's just the whole package."

Ovechkin, 22, whose 322 shots are 61 more than anyone else in the league, also could be part of history. He and Mike Green could become the first teammates to lead the league in goals and goals by a defenseman since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Paul Coffey in 1988-89.

"We've got our hands full with him," Lightning defenseman Shane O'Brien said of Ovechkin. "We just have to try to get a stick in his way as much as we can. I don't know how much we can shut him down.

"We just have to limit his chances."

The NHL's best

Categories in which the Capitals' Alex Ovechkin leads the league:

78 Points

48 Goals

17 Power-play goals

8 Winning goals

322 Shots

[Last modified February 15, 2008, 23:16:40]