“Now the real stuff is coming”: Alex Ovechkin skips The Tonight Show appearance to stay playoff-ready for Washington Capitals

In a move that reveals volumes about his commitment to the Washington Capitals, Alex Ovechkin skipped an opportunity to be on The Tonight Show to stay ready for the playoffs. Following his record-breaking moment, most players would probably pause to bask in the limelight. Not Alex Ovechkin. The recent Wayne Gretzky, all-time goal-scoring forward, is prioritizing team objectives over individual limelight with the postseason looming large.


Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Theodore John Leonsis said the Washington Capitals captain shunned high-profile TV offers, including The Tonight Show, opting instead to remain committed to his team's playoff push.
“Alex was invited on some television shows and The Tonight Show in New York to build his brand, hype, and celebrate,” Leonsis explained in a recent interview with 106.7 The Fan. “You know what he said? ‘I’m exhausted. I want to show respect to the coach and my teammates. I want to rest. I want to get ready for Thursday’s game and the sprint of the playoffs. I don’t want to have to fly back to New York and come back. Yeah, it might be good for me, but it’s time.’ And that’s what you want from your captain.”
The Washington Capitals currently sit atop the Eastern Conference, a world from last season when they barely made the playoffs and were immediately swept by the New York Rangers. Ovechkin, who did not even get a single point in that series — a first in his playoff career — seems more focused than ever on ensuring a different outcome this time.

Speaking after the record-breaking moment, Alex Ovechkin was already looking ahead. “Let’s keep it rolling, man,” he told NBC Sports Washington’s Al Koken. “Yeah, five or six games left. And, [the chase] is over, finally. Now the real stuff is coming.”
Even after reaching one of the sport's most impressive individual achievements, Ovechkin has devoted his full attention to the Washington Capitals' playoff push. With just five regular-season games left — all against other Metropolitan Division teams — the attention has undoubtedly turned from history to hardware.
“No more [record] questions, no more that stuff,” Ovechkin said. “It’s a relief, and now it’s time to concentrate on the playoffs.”
Leonsis seconded that, remarking, “Alex knows how much we value him, and, you know, we don’t want him thinking about anything right now other than, ‘I accomplished and broke a record that was never going to be broken.’ But that’s in the rearview mirror for the time being. Now, it’s five games left in the season, and then the playoffs.”
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With a strong roster and new momentum, the Capitals hope to come into the playoffs with high expectations. No more flying under the radar for this team this season —they're in first place. And with Alex Ovechkin showing them the way both on and off the ice, Washingtonians have reason to believe they'll be running deep into the postseason.