Trotz credits Ovechkin's skating as reason for bounce-back season

Alex Ovechkin is moving his feet.

The Washington Capitals captain is back to his old self this season, already with 23 tallies on the year and on pace to break the 50-goal barrier for the fourth time in the past five campaigns.

It's a nice bounce back for Ovechkin, who finished last year with just 33 goals. Good numbers for sure, but not the level that Capitals fans have become accustomed to.

So what's changed? According to Capitals coach Barry Trotz, Ovechkin has tapped into his familiar playing style that combines fast footwork and an intimidating physical presence, making him a constant offensive threat.

"I felt there was too much glide in his game. I thought he could be way more productive if he could get his legs moving to get to spaces he wasn't getting into last year," Trotz told Sportsnet's "Hockey Central at Noon" on Thursday. "He got married and once he came back from his honeymoon he recommitted to getting into the shape so he could play that way."

The results have been evident so far, as Ovechkin stands atop the NHL's goal scoring charts with countryman Nikita Kucherov.

Earlier this season, Ovechkin leapfrogged Mark Recchi to move into the top 20 in all-time NHL goal scoring. He sits 19 shy of 600 career markers.