Overtimes could take toll on players
A record 18 games went to OT in first round of playoffs.
After the Washington Capitals lost a double-overtime hear t breaker i n t he f i r s t round, Brooks Orpik just wanted to eat and go home to sleep.
B u t O r p i k , 3 6 , k n e w it would be better to get another workout in and take care of his body before leaving the arena.
“You get mentally fatigued, as well, the longer you play,” said the playoff veteran. “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.”
S e n a t o r s c o a c h G u y B o u c h e r s a y s r e s t i s a weapon, and it cer t ainly applies to handling the aftermath of overtime hockey. And there has been a lot of that so far in the 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 Predators and Ducks, which finished off their opponents in sweeps.
Ottawa defenseman Dion Phaneuf called the opening series against the 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 Rangers. “I think there’s been so many overtimes this year that every team is going through it.”
Maybe not. The Penguins went to overtime just once in knocking out the 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.
C a p i t a l s c a p t a i n A l e x 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.
“I think it could go either way,” Penguins center Matt Cullen said. “I would expect, knowing the personnel on both teams, both teams will be ready to play and both teams will be fresh.”