Another season and another early exit from the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs for the Washington Capitals. While there is plenty of blame to go around in the Caps locker room on Alex Semin and Niklas Backstrom, it has to start at the top with the captain Alex Ovechkin.

This is a team going into postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the East. And much like last year, they are removed at a point where most experts would say it was premature. Ovechkin did put up some points in the postseason, but was not the catalyst the Caps needed him to be.

Ovechkin was credited with one game-winning goal in nine games. As well he looked rather lack luster and minimally motivated. So where do the Capitals and general manager George McPhee go from here?

Is Ovechkin still a quality leader they had hoped he would be?  I question if he is. Look at the numbers this season. Regular season 32 goals down 18 goals from last season. As well his point total was down 24 points as well. And played seven more games this past season opposed to the previous season.

Some supporters will say his shot totals are down; my response would be that he took one less shot this regular season from his total the previous year. Others will argue he is playing more of a balanced game.This I can also argue as untrue by just displaying the plus/minus stats over the last two seasons as well.

Is it possible that Ovechkin may just not be the clutch player in the postseason most would expect him to be? He seems to get easily frustrated with the tight checking, scrum after every whistle style play of the post season. Now I am not claiming Ovie cannot be a physical force, but How often did you see him block a shot? Or be the first forward back on the back check?

With the Captain title you need to lead by example. And in my humble opinion Ovechkin has yet to do that in the postseason. Points are great and yes they help a team win, but it's what you leave out on the ice every game that will truly separate the winners from the losers. I hope for the Capitals and the faithful fans Ovechkin soon realizes this, Or he may just become another great regular season performer, with no postseason success.