Alex Ovechkin Skates Slowly On Defense As Derek Stepan Scores Goal In Game 4 (VIDEO)

Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin came under fire for his lack of effort during a play that resulted in Derek Stepan's game-winning goal on Wednesday night in the third period of Game 4 against the New York Rangers.

With less than 15 minutes left in the game, Stepan received a feed from a quick Carl Hagelin touch pass that faked out Caps goalie Braden Holtby. In the video above, Ovechkin is shown slowly skating into the frame as the Rangers put on a passing clinic leading up to Stepan's goal.

Deadspin wrote that Ovechkin "would prefer not to play defense" in its headline, while The Big Lead wrote that the Russian superstar could at least have "made a better show of trying" to disrupt the play.

This isn't the first time that Ovechkin has been criticized for a perceived lack of effort. But Capitals blog "Russian Machine Never Breaks" tried defending Ovechkin on the play, claiming that he was preparing for an outlet pass to get a quick jump on a breakaway.

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE