It’s another Feinstein Friday for the Junks, and this week, John weighs in on undefeated James Madison not being bowl-eligible and NCAA rules about the postseason – including an interesting discussion about the state of college sports in Virginia – and of course a little golf, among other things.
But one big topic was Alex Ovechkin, who just doesn’t look like himself in the early going of the Capitals’ season. The big question is why, and the wonder is if maybe, at age 38, Father Time finally caught up to Ovi, or is it just a blip at the beginning of a new year in a new system?
“What do we make of Ovi in his last two games, not even registering a shot for the first time in his career?” JP asked, and Feinstein’s simple response was maybe wait a while to be worried.
“I don't know if you worry too much about two games, because they're adapting to a new coach and a new system and they’ve got some new players,” Feinstein said. “He's 38, but he's been remarkably healthy throughout his career, and he's played remarkably well the last several years to get to where he is, so I don't think you worry yet. If you’re 10 games in and he's got two goals, then maybe you start to worry a little bit, because as you know, in every sport, there often comes a time when a player suddenly loses it. Hockey is such a physical sport, which people lose track of, but you can go off the cliff.”
Feinstein doesn’t see the need to panic about that with Ovi yet, but…
“As you said, he had never gone two games without getting a shot off,” John said. “Ovi is a goal-scorer, that’s what he does, and so you expect him, even in games when he doesn't score, to at least get off a few shots from that left point.”
