Alex Ovechkin’s OT goals gave the Capitals a Game 1 playoff victory over the Montreal Canadiens. … More (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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This is clearly the year of Alex Ovechkin. The NHL’s all-time goal scorer had done it all in his career – with the exception of scoring an overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Seconds after ESPN announcers Sean McDonough and Ray Ferraro emphasized that point, the Great 8 put that statistic in the rear-view mirror as he scored 2:26 into overtime and gave the Washington Capitals a 3-2 triumph in Game 1 of their playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.
Ovechkin gets high marks for ending the game with his game-winner. He went right to the front of the net and took a slick pass from Anthony Beauvillier while the puck was still in the air and deflecting it by Montreal goaltender Sam Montembeault.
The Capitals took advantage of a matchup that saw the Canadiens have a player on the ice competing in his third career game. Russian phenom Ivan Demidov had just joined the Habs, and the 19-year-old was on the ice for a defensive draw, as was offensive minded Patrik Laine. The Caps smelled Montreal’s vulnerability and Ovechkin quickly took advantage.
While the Canadiens dropped the series opener, there was plenty for the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed to feel good about. The Capitals had built a 2-0 lead and held it midway through the third period, but the visitors did not weaken. Young stars Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki scored to tie the score for the Habs and propel the game into the extra session.
Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis has much to build on prior to Game 2 of the series Wednesday night.
“We spent more time in the O-zone and we get better as the game went on,” St. Louis said, per NHL.com. “I feel like in terms of what we tried to do out there tonight, I felt it was a pretty good first game. There was a lot of good stuff.”
Maple Leafs ready to make a playoff statement
Slick Mitch Marner has the skill and quickness the Maple Leafs need in the Stanley Cup playoffs. … More (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
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The emotions were also flowing in the battle of Ontario between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators Sunday night. The Maple Leafs took advantage of an off-night from Senators goalie Linus Ullmark and Ottawa’s lack of discipline to dominate Game 1 of the series by a 6-2 margin.
The high-powered Leafs have to be relieved that they don’t have to face the Boston Bruins in the opening round because that team has eliminated the Leafs in the first round of the playoffs so many times.
Toronto jumped on the Sens behind stars Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. All three scored goals and while Auston Matthews did not have a marker, he did have a pair of assists.
Three of the Maple Leafs goals were power play scores as the Sens were taking careless penalties throughout. They are clearly a team that lacks Stanley Cup experience and did not know how to hold on to their discipline. There is little doubt that head coach Travis Green has emphasized that his players have to learn from their mistakes and not give the Maple Leafs man-advantage opportunities.
“It’s a fine line,” Green said, per Dave McCarthy of NHL.com. “Playoff hockey is emotional and competitive. I like to think we have a physical team and yet there is a fine line between crossing the line and taking penalties.”
The Carolina Hurricanes jumped on an injured New Jersey Devils team in the first game of their Eastern Conference playoff series and rolled to a 4-1 victory. The Devils may have a chance when the series moves to Newark for Game 3, but they appeared to be overwhelmed in Raleigh.
The Hurricanes outshot the Devils 44-24 in the game and Carolina had a 34-9 advantage at one point in the second period. Logan Stankoven had two goals for the Canes, and the Devils will have a hard time matching Carolina’s offense without injured center Jack Hughes in the lineup.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will finally begin their playoff run when they travel to Tampa for Game 1 against the Lightning Tuesday night. These in-state rivals have become Stanley Cup Finals regulars.
The Lighting won two of three finals appearances from 2020 through 2022, while the Panthers have been to the last two Stanley Cup Finals, winning in seven games last year against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
This is a series between two rivals that despise each other. The recent addition of agitator Brad Marchand to the Florida lineup will make this intense series burn even hotter than usual.
