Ovechkin lifts curse with win over Pens
You figured with his team’s back against the wall, Sidney Crosby would offer the biggest pushback against the Washington Capitals on Monday night.
After one period, you wondered what was going on.
The best player in the world was not even a good one for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first 20 minutes, during which he was benched for all but 5:58.
Almost immediately after being reunited with Patric Hornqvist in the second, Crosby was a little better. He won the draw that led to the Kris Letang point shot that found its way in at 11:52 of the second period, tying the game at 1-1 after Alex Chiasson had given the Caps the lead on a goal at 2:13 of the second.
Also in that third period, Crosby bumped the left ankle of Evgeny Kuznetsov from behind, appearing to injure Washington’s star centre. If it wasn’t an accident, it was a dirty play. But Kuznetsov recovered to strike back at 5:27 of the overtime, giving the Caps the series in six games by virtue of a 2-1 win.
It was Crosby who lost the puck at the Washington blue-line and Alex Ovechkin who fittingly ended up with it to send Kuznetsov on his way to the game-winning goal and his trademark flapping-bird celebration.
The Penguins’ run of Stanley Cups and Crosby’s run of Conn Smythe Trophy wins were both stopped at two. “Finally,” Ovechkin said in TV interviews about getting past the Penguins for the first time in his career.
You felt good for Ovechkin, with the big smile on his face looking like a kid at Christmas.
Matt Murray, who made 28 saves on the night, was clearly angry with himself for not stopping Kuznetsov on the breakaway. He shouldn’t have been. He was beaten by a good player making a good play.
The assist on Letang’s goal moved Crosby into a tie for 10th on the all-time playoff scoring list.
BETWEEN PERIODS: Crosby’s ice time was 18:57 after three periods, which was third most among Penguins forwards. Patric Hornqvist had 20:27 and Jake Guentzel was at 19:30.