Don't blame Ovechkin for another soul-crushing Capitals defeat

Don't do it.

Whatever you're going to tweet about Alex Ovechkin ... don't. Step away from your phone. Go to bed early, deal with it Thursday. It's not worth it. You're mad, you're hurting. And you know the rule: Never tweet emotionally. Because placing all the blame at Ovechkin's feet and his alone for this latest heartbreaking, soul- and dream-crushing Washington Capitals playoff defeat is the easy way out.

This was another collective Washington failure. That it came against the Pittsburgh Penguins adds insult to injury. It's tough to accept, and it's going to hurt for a long time in D.C., but here are three reasons why Ovechkin doesn't deserve the crap he's undoubtedly going to get over the next few days, weeks, and months.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Fleury was better than Holtby

Washington goaltender Braden Holtby's track record in the playoffs is amazing. At least it was, until these playoffs.

The Capitals' rock in goal simply didn't have it this spring. He departs the postseason with a .909 save percentage and a 7-6 record in 13 games.

Check out his playoff numbers in years past:

Opposite Holtby, Marc-Andre Fleury was stellar. He is the story of the playoffs. And he out-goaltended Holtby. It's simple as as that. And, hey, it happens. Holtby's still one of the best goalies in the league.

What was Trotz saving Ovie for?

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

In the most important game in the 12-year Ovechkin era, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz decided to give six forwards more ice time than No. 8. Six!

Sure, Ovechkin was on the ice for both Penguins goals, but if Trotz wasn't ready to ride his horse in Game 7 against the Caps' nemesis in Washington's all-in, Stanley-Cup-or-bust season, he never will be.

With all due respect to Mr. Trotz, there's no world in which Johansson and Burakovsky should be playing that much more than Ovechkin, both in general and especially at even strength.

Even more inconceivably, this was Trotz's gameplan from puck drop. Ovie played only 5:01 in the first period, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu. At home, in Game 7, with momentum on the Caps' side after two straight wins to tie the series, why wasn't Ovechkin out there more often?

No. 8 saw 7:08 of ice time in the third period, with his team on the ropes, but as NHL.com's Dan Rosen notes, 2:26 of that was with Holtby on the bench and the Caps up 6-on-5.

You can argue that Ovechkin is no longer the Capitals' best player, but you can't argue that Ovechkin isn't one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time. His team needed a goal in the third, a period it entered trailing 1-0. And with the season - with everything - on the line, Trotz couldn't be bothered to play his captain:

You want to blame someone? Trotz is your man.

Where was the support?

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Justin Williams had one job: Win Game 7.

Well, he's finally lost one. In fact, Mr. Game 7 failed to find the net in seven games against the Penguins. Ditto Johansson and Lars Eller. Oshie managed a single goal in the series, in Game 6. After three big goals in the first round, Tom Wilson put up zeroes versus the Pens.

Ovechkin had five points in seven games. Not great, but better than a number of his teammates. And he didn't have his best game Wednesday - but neither did his teammates.

"Tonight, I don't think we gave ourselves a chance," Holtby said after his season ended, according to NBC4 Sports' Carol Maloney. "And we're going to have to live with that."

After three straight 50-plus goal seasons, there's no doubt Ovechkin looked a step slower this season. He wasn't the five-on-five force we're used to him being. Time comes for us all. But to suggest that Ovie alone shoulders all the blame after another Capitals flameout is far too simplistic and - frankly - far too stupid a conclusion.

You're better than that. Remember: This was the best Capitals team ever assembled, after all.