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Ovechkin: ‘I think everybody quit on the play’

Washington Capitals v New York Rangers - Game Five

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Alex Ovechkin isn’t willing to shoulder the entire blame for the play on which his coach accused him of quitting.

“It is what it is,” said the Capitals’ captain, per CSN Washington. “He’s the head coach. I get the blame for it. In that moment I think everybody quit on the play.”

Again, here’s the play, which occurred Tuesday in a 5-0 loss to Dallas:

Ovechkin said he didn’t see Ray Whitney sneaking up behind him -- “I kind of lost position.”

“We make lots of mistakes, not one mistake,” he added. “You can’t blame one mistake on our game.”

Which is true.

That said, it often seems when Ovechkin makes a key defensive mistake, it’s of the glaring, head-shaking variety.

Or, as sportswriter Bruce Dowbiggin put it, “He doesn’t just quit on a play, he retires on it.”