UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- Alex The Great can be better.
Expecting Alex Ovechkin to be ''a difference maker,'' coach Barry Trotz is counting on his star player to produce if Washington intends to bounce back in its first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders.
Following a 2-1 overtime loss on Sunday, Washington trails 2-1 in a series that resumes on Long Island on Tuesday. The microscope is suddenly on Ovechkin, whose prolific regular-season production is failing to carry over into the postseason.
After scoring 53 times to lead the NHL in goals this past season, Ovechkin has scored just once on a team-leading 15 shots against New York.