Ovechkin's back, Leonard scores, and the Caps eye a Bruins opener next week
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Alex Ovechkin finally jumped back into game action tonight. The building felt different the second he touched the puck. You could almost hear every camera click. It's preseason, sure, but the buzz was real, and honestly contagious.
He looked fresh for October hockey, too. Twenty-one minutes and seven seconds isn't a soft launch. That's a real shift load, even for the big man. The stride had pop, and the timing tightened with every shift.
There were small moments that told the story. A quick curl into space on the half wall. A one-timer tease that made the crowd lean forward. A little grin at the bench after a smart, simple dump-and-change. Vintage, but measured.
The other return that mattered lived on the blue line. Martin Fehérváry skated nineteen minutes and forty seconds and threw his weight around. Five hits in a preseason game? That's a calling card. That's a «hello, remember me» kind of night.
This is what you want in early October. Your alpha looks engaged without forcing it. Your defensive hammer looks mean without crossing the line. Everyone else can find their lane around that spine. Simple recipe. Big results later.
Here's the note that kicked all this off, and it says plenty:
Numbers don't capture every nuance, obviously. But they frame the vibe. Ovechkin's minutes shout trust from the coaches. Fehérváry's hits yell edge from the back end. That's identity stuff, even before the real standings start counting.
I liked the posture of the group, too. Breakouts had fewer fumbles than last week. Neutral zone gaps tightened as the night went on. Forecheckers took smart angles, not hero laps. Little baseline details, but man, they add up fast.
Special teams were more rehearsal than masterpiece. Yet the puck zipped with purpose on the top unit. The threat felt present even when the finish wasn't there. And that matters, because opponents respect the shape before they fear the shot.
Alex Ovechkin preseason debut sparks Capitals ahead of Bruins season opener
We're six days away from Bruins versus Capitals when it truly counts. That's not far at all. This felt like a dress shirt try-on. A few adjustments, a quick steam, and out the door.
Against Boston, you need backbone shifts. You need Fehérváry stapling wingers to the glass. You need Ovi owning that left dot like a landlord. You need the bench loud and connected. You need, well, this exact energy.
I'm not crowning anything in October, relax. But I'm also not shrugging at signs of readiness. The group looked organized. The stars looked invested. The coaching staff looked decisive. That's a fine early-season triangle, folks.
The kid line sprinkled some juice, too. Nothing insane, but there was speed that rattled Boston's second pair. That changes matchups in a series, and it changes matchups in a week. Bank those reps now, spend them later.
If you're wondering about the legs, they held. Shifts remained crisp late. No long, dragging glides to the bench. That's conditioning, and that's pride. You love to see it, especially with Boston looming like a brick wall.
Bottom line, this was the right kind of preseason game. Enough contact to test the frame. Enough structure to test the brain. Enough star wattage to light the room. I walked out thinking, yeah, they're close. Not done, but close.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 3 | 1 ANSWERS Ovechkin's back, Leonard scores, and the Caps eye a Bruins opener next week Who set the tone last night ? | ||
| Alex Ovechkin | 0 | 0 % |
| Martin Fehervary | 0 | 0 % |
| Team depth | 0 | 0 % |
| Coaching | 0 | 0 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
