After the capitals were left behind 1-0 in the first period, Rangers defender Ryan Lindgren tried to send a message at the beginning of the second, trying to tie Alex Ovechkin in the defensive zone of the Rangers with a big blow of open ice. Ovi, who was trying to create in a one-on-two, saw Lindgren coming and gave Lindgren a counterattack that broke the gr8 stick in half. Lindgren and Ovechkin fell to the ice after their bodies collided violently.
“It was a big battle,” said Ovechkin after the game for NBC Sports Washington. “It’s the style of hockey I like.”
Lindgren’s hit
The Rangers, like so many other teams before them, learned that taking the body to Ovi only makes him angry and more determined.
“When I was training other teams against him, I said don’t do it,” commented former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau during NBC Sports Washington’s postgame program. “Let him sleep! Let him sleep! “
In the third period, with the Capitals winning streak at stake, Ovechkin took over, scoring twice in identical moves and giving the Capitals an unlikely return win by 2-1.
Ovi’s two goals
Ovi’s first goal came with 6:42 remaining in the third period. After Justin Schultz put a one-timer on the net, Ovi won his battle in front of the net and found Alexandar Georgiev’s rebound stopped in the painting. He pushed the puck home to tie it 1-1.
Ovechkin scored again three minutes and nine seconds later, after a great carry-in from Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuzy found John Carlson for a one-timer. Ovi, who had kicked hard into the net, pulled teammate Garnet Hathaway out of the way and hit the back of the net with his back.
Shout out. Celebrate. To win.
The goals were Ovechkin’s 13th and 14th season and the 719th and 720th points of his career. It was the 147th game with several goals of his career, drawing Ovi with Gordie Howe for the fourth game of all time. Ovechkin also drew with Mark Messier for the seventh most balanced goal in NHL history (452).
With this 2nd count (the one that ended up being the winner in 2-1 @Capitals defeat by Rangers tonight), Ovechkin also drew 452 from Mark Messier for the 7th most striking goals even in his career by a player in NHL history https://t.co/wk9wPlShDT
– StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 20, 2021
The goal marked Ovechkin’s 115th goal in the game win, the fourth biggest of all time.
Alex Ovechkin registered his 115th goal in his career victory against Rangers, three years from drawing with Phil Esposito for third place in NHL history.
– CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 20, 2021
Ovechkin has scored in five consecutive games and has eight goals in his last 10 games.
I’m happy to report that Alex Ovechkin is back doing Alex Ovechkin’s stuff. Last 10 games:
• 8 goals
• 47 shots on goal
• 94 shooting attempts
• Goals in 5 consecutive games– Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) March 20, 2021
“Sometimes you have to get those dirty and brave ones,” said Ovechkin. “It’s still the same, be it a goal from my place or whatever. These were important goals and I will accept them. “
is this the new ovi office? 😏 pic.twitter.com/ZQbienQ5Cm
– Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 20, 2021
Very rarely can a hockey player put a team on his back and carry him to the finish line, as in basketball. A skater star in hockey will play only up to a third of the match (20 minutes). But in the third period, Ovi gave his best impression of Michael Jordan against a team he fought against.
Ovechkin leads the capitals in points (7) scored in the last 10 minutes of the regulation and in the extension of this season.
– CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 20, 2021
With the win, the Capitals won all seven games Tom Wilson was out due to suspension.
RMNB coverage of Caps vs Rangers
Screenshot courtesy of NBC Sports Washington