For that to happen, the Capitals probably need another spectacular showing from a player who produced 52 goals and 106 points as a rookie, including the most talked-about score of the season, a sliding-on-his-back, stick-over-his-head moment of brilliance.

His skill on skates is undeniable, yet ask other Capitals what they like best about the guy they call “Ovie” or “AO,” and the first answer usually is his exuberance.

“The thing he brings into our locker room is kind of a youthful love of the game,” Capitals captain Chris Clark said. “Sometimes you think of the game as a job — because it is our job — but you look at him and he’s always having fun, he’s always bringing that to the room. You need guys like that, always having fun. It’s infectious.”

Ovechkin is, after all, still a kid in many ways, only two weeks past his 21st birthday. That’s what fuels his animated goal celebrations, sliding across the ice on one knee and pumping a fist. And explains the ripped jeans and flip-flops he wore to the annual media day Tuesday, while teammates were in dark slacks and laced shoes. And might be the reason his favorite movie is “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” starring his favorite actress, Kate Hudson.

Truth be told, watching such films is part of Ovechkin’s effort to improve his English, which he also does by listening to the radio, watching TV, reading and simply hanging out with other Capitals.

He even asked the team’s PR staff not to learn Russian, so he’d be forced to speak his new language. Nowadays, he describes his new car as “sick.” ’Nuff said.

When Ovechkin first arrived in Washington, he relied a lot on Dainius Zubrus, a fellow forward who’s from Lithuania and acted as his translator and surrogate brother. Ovechkin would phone his pal four or five times a day early last season; the frequency of those calls keeps decreasing.

“He likes it here, and he enjoys the States and enjoys the NHL and loves coming to the rink and playing. Hockey for him obviously is No. 1,” Zubrus said. “At his age, it’s kind of easy to get distracted with all the other stuff, but he’s concentrated on hockey, and at the same time he has fun with it.”

Indeed, challenged to come up with a criticism of his star, Capitals general manager George McPhee said Ovechkin’s worst quality is an inability to say “No” to requests for his time. Some, of course, come from a team hoping to sell tickets and replica jerseys. One of Ovechkin’s recent appearances was to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and take batting practice with teammates at a Washington Nationals game. Before getting into the cage with a bat, Ovechkin listened intently to tips offered by Nationals hitting coach Mitchell Page.

Always learning.

Which raises the question: When it comes to hockey, is there an aspect of his game he’d like to improve?

“Yes,” Ovechkin said.

What?

“It’s a secret,” he said, breaking into a wide smile.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

He acknowledges he’s a different person than he was 12 months ago, on the verge of his first NHL season.

“I have more experience. I feel more comfortable,” Ovechkin said. “And I’m not nervous. I can just go and play.”

So, he was nervous before his NHL debut, a game in which he scored twice? How long did it take for that uneasiness to fade away?

“One shift,” he said, flashing that smile again.

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