Ovechkin backs up promise as Caps even series with Blue Jackets
Alex Ovechkin can now add prophet to his impressive resume.
When the Capitals found themselves in a 2-0 hole after losing the first two games of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series at home, Ovechkin matter-of-factly said the team would return to Washington for a Game 5 with the series tied. He repeated himself Tuesday morning, before the team won Game 3 against the Columbus Blue Jackets in double overtime.
Then, in the third period Thursday night, he ensured he would be proved right, scoring the Capitals’ third goal of the game in a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the first game of the series decided in regulation.
The Capitals have stormed back, winning both games at Nationwide Arena to set up a return to Capital One Arena on Saturday tied at two games apiece and with home-ice advantage restored.
Washington has goaltender Braden Holtby most to thank for the comeback. After he was initially beat out by Philipp Grubauer to start the series, Holtby has shined in his return to the cage.
He made 33 saves in Tuesday’s win, and though he saw fewer shots Thursday night he was arguably sharper, so positionally sound that he seemed to be barely moving as he stopped several point-blank Columbus shots. The one goal he allowed, scored by Blue Jackets winger Boone Jenner, came when Washington was already up 3-0. He finished with 23 saves.
Ovechkin has a history of postseason guarantees. Just three years ago, he said the Capitals would beat the New York Rangers in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference final. That didn’t pan out, but Ovechkin has been confident in this team since training camp, even when external expectations were down.
“We’re not going to be suck,” he said in September, and despite significant off-season roster turnover that had Washington leaning on more rookies in the lineup, the team won its division for a third straight year, largely because Ovechkin scored a league-high 49 goals.
Pessimism for Washington’s season returned when the Capitals lost their first two playoff games at home. But Ovechkin was so sure the team would respond that he said it twice.
“That just shows confidence that we’re confident we can do it,” coach Barry Trotz said Wednesday. “But you can say it as much as you want, now you’ve got to back it up.”
While Washington’s power play has been strong this series with six goals in the first three games, the
That just shows confidence that we’re confident we can do it. But you can say it as much as you want, now you’ve got to back it up.
Capitals’ stars had yet to impress at even strength. The Blue Jackets entered Thursday’s game with four five-on-five goals from their top line anchored by 19-year-old centre Pierre-Luc Dubois, and the Capitals had just one goal from their first line — Tom Wilson’s tip last game. Meanwhile, Washington’s second line with centre Nicklas Backstrom and right wing T.J. Oshie had yet to score at even strength.
Wilson came through for a second straight game. Defenceman John Carlson and Chandler Stephenson had a two-on-one, and after Sergei Bobrovsky saved Carlson’s shot, Stephenson’s attempt to put in the rebound was foiled by Columbus forward Thomas Vanek, sprawled across the goal line. Vanek gloved the puck away, but Capitals centre Evgeny Kuznetsov corralled it, setting up a Wilson one-timer to lift the Capitals to a 1-0 lead 6:16 into the game.
Washington has scored first in every game this series. Wilson drew criticism through the first two games because his costly penalties resulted in Columbus power-play goals. But he was a difference-maker for the Capitals in their first-round series against Toronto a year ago, and he has been one of Washington’s steadiest forwards all season, playing the majority of his minutes beside Ovechkin.
Washington got its third power play of the game 8:49 into the second period, when Blue Jackets sniper Artemi Panarin was whistled for slashing Kuznetsov. The Capitals’ man-advantage has scored in every game this series, and it came through again. Ovechkin took two shots, but it was Oshie’s whack at the rebound that got past Bobrovsky to make it a 2-0 Washington lead.
While the Capitals’ power play has stayed hot, the team’s penalty kill has caught up to stifle the Blue Jackets in Games 3 and 4. Columbus scored four power-play goals in eight opportunities through the first two games, but Washington has shut out the Blue Jackets on their past six opportunities. Columbus didn’t have so much as a shot on goal in its first two manadvantage looks Thursday night.
A two-goal cushion has spelled trouble for the Capitals this series, and it’s often referred to as the most dangerous lead in hockey. They squandered that very lead in the first two games, falling in overtime both times. But then Ovechkin scored 2:49 into the third period, pushing the Capitals’ lead to three goals for the first time all series.
That was insurance for what Ovechkin believed would happen all along: the Capitals returning home with the series tied.