Washington Capitals: Alexander the Great Is Raising His Game When It Counts Most

We've all seen the celebration hundreds of times: After netting another goal, Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin drops to one knee, kisses his glove and points to the heavens in tribute to his late brother, Sergei.  

While no one's forgotten Ovechkin's patented celebration, his opportunities to practice the ritual have been much harder to come by this season.  

The Capitals captain, much like the rest of his team, has endured a frustrating season offensively.  His goal totals are a fraction of what they were this time a year ago and he suffered through lengthy goal droughts on multiple occasions.

However, much to the delight of Caps fans, Ovechkin has regained his scoring touch just in time for the final drive to the playoffs.  

While Ovechkin is still on pace for a career-low 82 points, his play in the past 10 games is a very encouraging sign for the Capitals.  He has five goals and 11 points over that span and has been a difference maker in every aspect of the game.  

Over the course of the first 50 games of the season, Ovechkin appeared to drift through games, rarely asserting himself physically and often trying too hard to create offensive breaks.  That all has changed since the All-Star break, as Ovechkin has reverted back to his trademark bull-in-a-china-shop style.  

The Russian forward has also regained his confidence in the offensive zone and has been making his presence felt in clutch situations.  

On Sunday, with the Capitals knotted at one with Buffalo in an important game with playoff implications, Ovechkin took over.  With the Capitals on the power play, Ovechkin gathered the puck and skated end to end, setting up Marcus Johansson's game-winning goal.  

Fast forward to Monday night's game on the road against the Penguins.  With the Capitals sputtering again on the power play, the team needed a spark to break the scoreless tie in the second period.  The captain again delivered, with a truly Ovechkin-esqe one-timed bomb from the point on the power play, which proved to be the game's only goal.  

Last week, he had a highlight-reel goal against Anaheim and helped the team to a come-from-behind win over the Ducks.  Even in a loss to the Sharks, Ovechkin was arguably the best player on the ice, tallying a goal and an assist in a 3-2 loss.  

The roller coaster that has been Alexander Ovechkin's 2010-11 NHL season is just over 20 games away from being completed, but how will it finish?  If he continues to raise his game in pressure situations like he has lately, we may be seeing a few more of his trademark celebrations come playoff time.  

One can only imagine what he'd do if he and the Capitals capture the franchise's first Stanley Cup this summer.