Working OT: Extra time is likely to take its toll
After the Washington Capitals lost a double-overtime heartbreaker in the first round, Brooks Orpik just wanted to eat some food and go home to sleep.
Playoff veteran Orpik knew it would be better to get a workout in and take care of his 36-year-old body before leaving the arena.
“You get mentally fatigued, as well, the longer you play,” Orpik said. “Sometimes that can have a carry-over, I think. Everybody’s in such good shape physically I think you can get through it. I think the mental effect is probably a little bit bigger.”
Ottawa Senators coach Guy Boucher likes to say that rest is a weapon, and it certainly applies to handling the aftermath of overtime hockey. And there has been much of that this postseason.
A record 18 games went to overtime in the first round with at least one in every series. The effects will vary drastically, from teams like the Capitals and Senators that have played more than 40 extra minutes to the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks, which finished off their opponents in sweeps.
Ottawa defenseman Dion Phaneuf called the opening series against the Boston Bruins (four overtimes) the toughest he has ever been through.
His general manager, Pierre Dorion, isn’t concerned.
“I think we have enough depth that we’ll be able to sustain however long we go,” Dorion said as the Senators prepared to face the New York Rangers. “I think there’s been so many overtimes this year that every team is going through it.”
Maybe not. The Pittsburgh Penguins went to overtime just once in knocking out the Columbus Blue Jackets in five games. Washington, the Penguins’ second-round opponent, played the most OT (46:20) and total (406:20) minutes of any team that advanced.
“Pittsburgh is probably sitting there and they probably loved that we were playing overtime every game,” Orpik said.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin expects his team to be rested and ready even though they’ve played almost 100 more minutes than the Penguins. There’s something to be said for experiencing the intensity and pressure of playoff overtime, but the buildup of extra minutes can be a factor.