<P> Ovechkin and the Capitals repeated as division champions en route to meeting the New York Rangers in the opening round . After advancing to the second round in seven games, Ovechkin notched his first NHL playoff hat trick on 4 May, in Game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins to help Washington to a 4--3 win . The Capitals were eventually defeated by Pittsburgh, the eventual Stanley Cup champions, in seven games . Ovechkin finished the 2009 playoffs with a post-season career - high 21 points in 14 games . He went on to win the Hart and Pearson trophies for the second consecutive year, becoming the seventeenth player to win the Hart multiple times . </P> <P> Just over a month into the 2009--10 season, Ovechkin suffered an upper - body injury during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on 1 November 2009, after a collision with opposing forward Raffi Torres . After returning, Ovechkin was suspended by the NHL on 1 December for two games (one for the action, and one for a second game misconduct penalty during the season) for a knee - on - knee hit to Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason during a game the previous day . Both Gleason and Ovechkin had to be helped off the ice, although Gleason later returned during the game, while Ovechkin did not . Ovechkin was assessed a five - minute major penalty and a game misconduct at the time . Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau commented that Ovechkin's style of play was at times "reckless ." The suspension was Ovechkin's first of his career, causing him to forfeit $98,844.16 in salary . </P> <P> On 5 January 2010, Ovechkin was named captain of the Washington Capitals after previous captain Chris Clark was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets . He became the first European, second - youngest and 14th overall captain in team history . On 5 February, at a game against the New York Rangers, Ovechkin, with his second goal and third point of the game, reached the 500 - point milestone of his NHL career . He is the fifth player to achieve the milestone in only five seasons, reaching it in 373 career games . On 14 March, at a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center, Ovechkin sent' Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards after Campbell had dumped the puck to the blue line . Ovechkin was called for boarding, receiving a five - minute major and a game misconduct, and was suspended for two games (for a third game misconduct of the season, a two - game suspension is automatic). Campbell suffered a fractured clavicle and fractured rib, and was expected to be out seven - to - eight weeks . </P> <P> Ovechkin won the 2009--10 Ted Lindsay Award, becoming only the second player in NHL history to win the award in three consecutive years . He also led the NHL in goals per game and points per game for three straight seasons, from 2008 to 2010 . Ovechkin ranks third in Capitals history in goals (only Peter Bondra and Mike Gartner have tallied more goals) and is seventh in total points . </P>

Who was the captain of the washington capitals before ovechkin