Capitals’ playoff hopes dim as Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson struggle

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, isn’t just having a quiet series, he’s gone missing. As the Washington Capitals trail the Carolina Hurricanes in a high-stakes second-round showdown, their captain has vanished from the scoresheet and, arguably, from the fight itself. No goals. No assists. No impact. For a franchise icon whose legacy is built on rising in big moments, Ovechkin’s silence isn’t just surprising, it’s alarming. And with John Carlson also faltering under pressure, the Capitals’ once-reliable core is suddenly their biggest question mark. Is this the beginning of the end for Washington’s old guard?For a player who holds the all-time NHL goal-scoring record, Alex Ovechkin’s playoff struggles in 2025 are shocking. Three games in, and the Capitals captain has zero points and just eight shots on goal. More alarming: just one power-play shot in over 11 minutes of man-advantage ice time. Ovechkin’s signature presence on the left circle is missing and with it, Washington’s offensive identity.Game 3 saw a glimmer of the old Ovi, a burst of activity in the slot but the opportunity fizzled, and so did the Capitals’ momentum. At 39, is the future Hall of Famer hitting the wall at the worst possible time?On defense, John Carlson is battling a storm of his own. His Game 2 heroics (a power-play game-winner) quickly faded after a disastrous Game 3. Carlson was on the ice for all four goals allowed — outskated, outmuscled, and outplayed. For someone averaging nearly 25 minutes per night, the mistakes have been glaring and costly.Head coach Spencer Carbery is staying publicly composed, but the truth is hard to mask: the Washington Capitals' veteran core is faltering under postseason pressure.The Hurricanes vs Capitals series has exposed more than just aging legs, it’s raising questions about whether Washington’s loyalty to its aging stars has finally come back to bite them. No amount of leadership or locker-room presence can replace production on the ice and right now, both Ovechkin and Carlson are coming up short.Also Read: Max Domi fined $5K for Barkov hit as NHL faces heat over inconsistent disciplineGame 4 may be a turning point or a breaking point. Because if the Capitals’ biggest names don’t show up now, there may not be a next time. Not for this season. And maybe not for this core.