In the meanwhile between taking the time here to update and follow-up on my commentry, I've reviewed many other threads. I found one that blames Backstrom's return for WAS loss in G#4.
I took partial interest to this view and decided to spend a small quantity of my valuable time sorting through it. Posted elsewhere, copied and pasted here for relevancy:
As stated; Commentater's view was (WAS) Backstrom's return [from 4 game injury] was detrimental. Here is my reply:
I admit that I was not aware of his return until gametime. That said, half of me thought it was a bonus. The other half thought it might be a problem. Not blaming him for WAS loss tonight, just sayin they were doing fine w/o him.
Whatever, it's just 1 game. Maybe his return proves to be influential overall. Maybe detrimental...?
For what it's worth, from a humble spectator / observer, I feel it's unfair to put that kind of weight around his neck.
He has generally been a quality player all these years. Might I suggest you give him a little bit of leeway to catch his breath ?
I think the news story here is how OVI turned over from being a little Diva bitch into a more real and serious player.
I see from reading many posts here, how easy it is to keep thinking of him as "Alice". I get it. Believe me I get it. (I hated him all these years for exactly that). But things have changed. At least I think they have. And believe me, I'm no push-over. Actions speak louder than words. He's passing more, making better decisions on if, when and where to pass to, as well as being a better team leader. I see a change.
I'm not demanding or asking for anyone to agree with my views. I can only say it would be in everyone's general interest to at least just consider the angle I supposition.
For what it's worth, I have endlessy witnessed his facial contortions via camera closeups constantly throughout countless games throughout his career. No one player ever comes close in matching that instensity over that extent of time.
This guy always wants to win. Now he wants to win bad !
He was always trying to do it the wrong way though and that's why he never did.
I think he's figured it all out now. I think he's put the elusive jig-saw pieces in place and is about to solve the puzzle.
I took a lot of time here commenting in response to your post and I like what I've said. It fits in with the philosophy of my thread and I will copy and repost there. Again, just my humble opinion and trust I've made sense with it.
But let me take this an extra step further in to the deep dark regions.
As a TOR Leaf fan, WAS is no fav of mine.
As a 'Cold-war', 'Baby-Boomer', 'Westerner.'..Russians not on my hit parade. (WAS full of them)
As an observer of recent Olympic history, Russia has been cheating.
Now I'm going to go zenith:
Whatever you want to call it; Russia, Soviet Union, CCCP,...
That geographical area (as a collective and within recent time) is responsible for the most human attrocities associated as a one, ever known to mankiind and cleary not to be trusted. which is why I don't.
That's not to say others of all sorts compete for that tiltle, but they do win on all fronts.
So for me to say, that I believe there is a possibility for a group of individuals from that category to change things around, says a lot ! It's not the place. It's not the politics. It's the people. It's the everyday people grown from such cataclysmic hardship to endure.
Alexander Ovechkin is one of those people.
I don't say this lightly. Thanks for letting me express myself. I hope & trust you take this philosophy in the way I've intended.