Ovechkin admits he struggled blocking out playoff criticism earlier in career

Alexander Ovechkin is experiencing a liberation of sorts in these NHL playoffs, as he's finally reached the Stanley Cup Final. It's been a long time coming for the Washington Capitals superstar.

The 11-time All-Star - who was criticized for years for never leading the Capitals to the final while his principal rival, Sidney Crosby, lifted the Cup three times - admits it was initially difficult to block out the talk that he couldn't win when it mattered most.

"Of course you read news. Of course you're paying attention to what people saying," Ovechkin said to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "But sometimes you just have to hear it, and it goes in one ear and out the other. Because if you're going to take all of this information, you're going to be crazy, you know? You're going to be psycho. You just can't play hockey after that. The first couple of years when we lost, of course it was hard. Of course, it was like, 'Oh Jesus, what did I do wrong?'"

Ovechkin won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the seventh time in his career after leading the NHL with 49 goals during the 2017-18 season, and has displayed a dynamic all-around game throughout the playoffs.

Washington head coach Barry Trotz says he's noticed a discernible change in his captain's approach.

"I think he's approaching the playoffs with a little more ease," Trotz said. "He's been freed a little bit - freed in a sense of understanding that he's a great player no matter what. I think too much was put on him. I think he got away from realizing that he is a good player and he's a good person and he does all those things. It just freed him enough that he's now got a chance to get the ultimate prize. We're four wins away, and he's been a big reason for it along with his teammates. You don't win three rounds, you don't win a round, you don't win anything in this sport by yourself."

It may be a bit trite at this point, but winning does indeed cure everything. And for Ovechkin, critical acclaim is less important than capping off one of the most decorated careers of this century with a Cup victory.

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