http://www.authenticbruinsproshop.com/authentic-4-bobby-orr-jersey.html It all rests on Alex Ovechkin ... again. Only he can save the NHL from going without a 50-goal scorer for the first time in a full season in the salary-cap era. "Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Ovi ripped off eight goals in the last however many games they have left,'' Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said Monday over the phone, a day before Ovechkin notched No. 43 against the Ottawa Senators. "That's very true," echoed Ducks star winger Corey Perry on Wednesday, when relayed Stamkos' confidence in Ovechkin getting it done. Maybe Ovechkin will do it again. He needs seven goals in his final 10 games. One should never bet against the Russian goal machine. Mark Stone Authentic Jersey But if he doesn't, the specter of the NHL's first full season without a 50-goal scorer since 2003-04 -- aka the Dead Puck Era -- certainly underlines what everyone has known for a while: It's hard to score goals in this league. "It's definitely tougher," said Stamkos, fourth in the NHL with 34 goals. "There's a few factors. The goalies are so good. I know there's this big equipment debate, but I just think the goalies are that much better. And look at the size of them now, the quickness, they're some of the best athletes in the sport. That plays a big role in it with how technical and athletic they are, it's tough to score on them." It's precisely where Perry also began when asked for his take. "I think you have to start with the goalies," said Perry, who scored his 30th goal of the season Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens. "They're bigger, more athletic, they're challenging more because they can get back and get that rebound if it goes to the side; that's where I am on it." What's interesting is that neither star player is saying the goalies are the No. 1 factor in the offensive decline because they're cheating or because of the equipment; they're both complimenting the position because of its evolution. http://www.officialavalancheonline.com/Red+Matt+Duchene+Jersey Where Stamkos and Perry have a slight difference of opinion is in the proposed goalie equipment changes potentially coming for next season, with the upper body and pants area streamlined and contoured so as to create a bit more space for shooters. Tampa Bay Lightning's Ben Bishop is among the goalies supporting the league and NHLPA in the proposed changes. Just how much of an impact it would actually have though in terms of creating more goals is the debate. "I've talked to Bish briefly about that," Stamkos said of the proposed goalie equipment changes. "I think he's gone on record as saying it doesn't even look like that big of a difference." In Stamkos' view, the goalies are so good they'll adjust quickly. But Perry figures perhaps it might have enough of an impact. "It could open some more holes, the pants Tim McCarver Authentic Jersey if they're curved, it could hit their pants and go in, just little things," Perry said. "I don't know if it's going to work, but you might as well try it. I'm kind of for it."