Alex Ovechkin makes extra historical past along with his first NHL playoff additional time purpose

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin had seemingly executed all of it in hockey, main the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018, incomes the Hart Trophy as MVP thrice and breaking Wayne Gretzky’s file for essentially the most objectives in NHL historical past.

The one factor he had not executed — till now — was rating an additional time playoff purpose.

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Ovechkin obliterated that enjoyable truth about his illustrious profession by scoring 2:26 into OT Monday night time in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens. It was his second purpose within the playoff opener and 74th within the postseason over his 20 years within the league — however the first in 45 video games that went to additional time.

“Forty-five video games, I do know — 45 additional time video games,” middle Dylan Strome mentioned. “It is nice. Probably not shocked that he bought that one. He’s been on a tear all yr. Nice cross by (Anthony Beauvillier) and nice end by ‘O.’ I believe it was out of the air, so it was an awesome end.”

Ovechkin downplayed it as “a purpose is a purpose,” however the OT winner put an exclamation level on a classic efficiency by the 39-year-old winger, who additionally led Washington with seven hits and scored on the ability play late within the first interval.

“He made a few massive performs for us tonight, was bodily, set the tone,” coach Spencer Carbery mentioned. “He was main the cost and dragging guys into the combat.”

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Longtime teammate Tom Wilson was unaware historical past was made.

“Information to me,” Wilson mentioned earlier than shortly turning to praising Ovechkin. “It’s unbelievable. He’s clearly led us all yr. He’s led us for the final 20 seasons for what he’s executed for this crew. He simply continues to step up, man. He’s a playoff participant. He does every part.”

Every part besides rating in OT within the postseason, which Beauvillier mentioned is “sort of loopy when you consider it.” Beauvillier is new to the crew since becoming a member of on the commerce deadline, and those that have been round Ovechkin even a bit of bit longer have grown accustomed to him stepping up in massive moments.

“Man’s one of the best participant on the earth,” goaltender Logan Thompson mentioned. “What else are you able to say? He is available in clutch at the moment, all sport. He had an element in all these objectives. It’s superior to see. It’s a privilege to be his teammate.”

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Ovechkin’s first purpose on the ability play got here on a shot from his trademark spot within the left faceoff circle on a shot that appeared almost equivalent to the one he took to attain No. 895 on April 6, passing Gretzky for the file.

“Fairly related, eh?” Strome mentioned. “That’s what we mentioned after we bought again to the bench.”

Wilson, who fed Ovechkin the cross for every of the objectives, observed a resemblance between them.

“It appeared fairly acquainted,” Wilson mentioned. “After I see him get some house, you simply need to put it on his tape, and he can rating from wherever.”

And might hit from wherever, too. Ovechkin opened the sport by crushing Montreal’s Mike Matheson with an enormous hit on his first shift 20 seconds in. He saved that up the remainder of the night time, incomes as a lot respect from across the Capitals locker rooms for throwing his physique round as placing the puck within the internet.

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“He’s a beast,” Wilson mentioned. “He’s a machine. He’s on the market creating vitality for our crew, scoring. … That’s what a frontrunner does. It’s one factor to be good all season lengthy, however the guys that present up and hit and block photographs and lead the crew, that’s why he’s a legend.”

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