The Caps played like the best team in hockey for the first two periods. Ovechkin was possessed. Then the third period arrived and they instantly became the perennial playoff losers we know all too well. They were out shot 19-3 in the 3rd. But thanks to Oshie, the Caps play on.
Backstrom has stepped it up the past 2-3 games, and good to see because they need him to be a presence. Maybe I only notice everytime he loses a faceoff, but he needs to do better at the dot.
Gotta wonder about the hit on Ovi. Macauley has to make at least a 2 min minor there or it turns into a prison riot. Qadri went low with a hip check leading with his shoulder, glad it wasn’t knee on knee and glad 8 makes it back to the ice. I just was hoping someone would make Qadri bleed from his nose for that hit. Paging Tom Wilson.
On the OT winner - almost like the Leafs D fell asleep, and Johansson really took advantage, and smart of Kuze to hit JW in the slot, as opposed to forcing the close in bad angle.
Great series and I didn’t expect it to be such a grind. Looking forward to Sunday night.