Star’s breakaway goal has Capitals gushing
It was a classic Alex Ovechkin goal.
Dominating the New York Rangers during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Saturday, the Capitals were still up by just one goal early in the second period. That’s when three quick passes sprung Ovechkin into full flight. He drove right by defenseman Marc Staal, a fine player but one with little chance of keeping up with the 25-year-old Russian at the end of a long shift.
Ovechkin then ducked in front of New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist and flipped a backhand shot into the net for a 2-0 lead as the Verizon Center erupted around him. It was a critical moment in the game, putting the offensively challenged Rangers in a deep hole en route to the Caps’ series-ending 3-1 victory. The play was exactly what Washington needed at the time. That it came from the Caps’ best player bodes well as they prepare for the second round of the postseason — and maybe beyond.
| Caps notes |
| » Washington took the day off Sunday after clinching its Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the New York Rangers on Saturday in five games. The Caps return to the ice Monday morning at 10:30 for an optional practice. |
| » There’s still no word on the second-round opponent, however. No. 2 Philadelphia’s 5-4 overtime win at No. 7 Buffalo on Sunday sends that series to a seventh game on Tuesday. Washington will host Buffalo if the Sabres win. |
| » Monday night also features No. 4 Pittsburgh trying to finish off No. 5 Tampa Bay on the road in a Game 6. On Tuesday night, No. 3 Boston — up 3-2 in the series — has a Game 6 at No. 6 Montreal. The Caps still could play Buffalo, Montreal, Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay. |
“You always want your big players and your best players to step up and be the guys,” veteran center Jason Arnott said. “And Alex did it. Huge game for us, and he played solid not only offensively but defensively. His game is coming around that way, and when he does that other guys see it. He also just showed his talent on that goal. That’s Ovechkin-style right there, and if he keeps doing that and leading us, hopefully good things will happen.”
Staal and defensive partner Dan Girardi formed a solid No. 1 combination for New York, facing the opposition’s top players night in and night out, including Ovechkin, who had just two assists and no goals in four regular-season games against the Rangers. But Ovechkin’s speed was too much Saturday. It was the type of explosive play he has produced less often this year with a career-low 32 goals during the regular season. But — as Staal found out — Ovechkin is still capable of making anyone look silly.
“It’s impossible to stop that guy when he drives wide. I’ve tried in practice. And he’s just so strong,” Washington defenseman Karl Alzner said. “If he can go out there and do that all the time, that’s going to be pretty good. And that’s a good player that he went around there, too.”
That’s the Ovechkin they got in the New York series, which the Caps won 4-1. Ovechkin finished with three goals and three assists. He was also a dynamic presence all over the ice in the third period and overtime of Wednesday’s dramatic Game 4 victory — even though he didn’t register on the score sheet.
“I thought [Saturday] was [Ovechkin’s] best game of the series, easily,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I mean, complete. In the other games he’s had flashes of brilliance and he’s been not so visible. I thought he was very visible on the ice and doing the right things. I thought his goal was spectacular.”
