The Leafs gain the series lead with a 4-3 OT win over the Caps
Capitals have the Presidents’ Trophy, but Toronto’s young guns have the series lead
MAPLE LEAFS 4, CAPITALS 3 (OT)
There is a narrative out there — a very lazy one, mind you — that Alex Ovechkin cannot handle pressure, that when the stage is the biggest, the lights are the brightest and the stakes are the highest, he chokes.
That narrative would put to you that he’s not Crosby or Toews or even Justin Williams — that for all the goals he scores in the regular season, he just can’t win.
It’s why, according to his fiercest critics, Ovechkin hasn’t hoisted the Stanley Cup or captured an Olympic gold medal. And it’s why some believed the Washington Capitals, who have yet to advance past the second round since drafting the Russian sniper first overall in 2004, would crumble against the eighth-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs.
Lazy or not, the narrative is being written again this post-season after the Capitals lost 4-3 in overtime to the Leafs in Game 3 on Monday.
It’s not necessarily Ovechkin’s fault that Washington is now down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series to the Leafs, or that Capitals once again lost in overtime. He wasn’t on the ice when Tyler Bozak redirected a Nazem Kadri pass for the game-winner. He wasn’t to blame.
For most of the game, Ovechkin did his part. On the second shot of the first period, he set up in his familiar spot at the top of the faceoff circle and one-timed a pass from Nicklas Backstrom that seemed to burn a hold through Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen’s glove.
It was his second goal of the series. And for those counting at home, it was also his 84th point in 87 playoff games. The reason Washington is trailing in this series — and really, has wore a loser label for so long — is that Ovechkin was unable to pick up his 85th point.
“Great players like great stages,” Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said. “I think those players just elevate. You look at his record in the playoffs — his point production in the playoffs can be matched up there against anybody. It’s the stage. He’s one of those players that likes the stage.”
The problem with Washington is that not enough players seem to share that sentiment.
Last year, Evgeny Kuznetsov went missing in action with just one goal and one assist in 12 playoff games. The year before, Backstrom had no goals and two assists in a seven-game loss to the New York Rangers in the conference semifinal.
Both Backstrom and Kuznetsov scored in Game 3, but for most of the game the best players on the ice were wearing blue and white. If it continues, it won’t matter what Ovechkin does.
“Nobody said it was going to be easy to go to the second round,” Ovechkin said.
“It’s the playoffs. Everybody understands that every mistake can (cost) you games. For them, it’s a good experience to play those kind of games in the playoffs.
“They’ve played well, obviously. We respect them. It’s a battle.”
For the most part, Ovechkin has been willing to battle. He scored a power-play goal in Game 2 and had a chance to win that game on a breakaway in overtime.
But he saved his best effort for Game 3.
Ovechkin was a beast. He gave Washington a 2-0 lead in the opening five minutes, finished the game with five shots and four hits, and was a handful to cover, as Kadri found out when Ovechkin effortlessly tossed the Leafs centre to the ice to avoid a check.
If there is a criticism, it is that he didn’t score more than once.
Often, that is the common misconception in picking apart Ovechkin’s lack of success in the post-season. He produces, but he can only do so much. The Leafs know this, which is why heading into the series the game plan was to try to shut down Ovechkin and take their chances with the rest of what Washington has to offer.
“You definitely put more emphasis on Ovechkin,” Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “He’s a big part of (Washington’s offence), but their offence goes deeper than just one player.
“I mean, his line, if you look at (T.J.) Oshie and Backstrom, they’re two of the top offensive players in the league if you ask me. So it’s more than just him.”
In Game 3, the Capitals showed that. It was Backstrom who gave Washington a 1-0 lead when he converted on a two-on-one pass from defenceman Nate Schmidt on the first shot of net. And with Washington leading 2-1, it was Kuznetsov who drove hard to the net and beat Andersen with a deke.
“The rest of the lineup is strong too,” Leafs defenceman Connor Carrick said. “There’s not one guy that you’re overly obsessive about, but at the same time you respect that of all the guys that score on their team he does it the most.”
“He’s the best scoring forward in the game today. He’s still someone that draws a lot of attention. He’s a dominant man.”
Maybe so, but that’s not the narrative being written after Game 3.