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Ovechkin busts out of slump in Calgary
Scores twice, combines with Semin, Backstrom for 10 points in 7-2 win
Scores twice, combines with Semin, Backstrom for 10 points in 7-2 win
A brain cramp on the Calgary Flames' bench and on the ice by Curtis Glencross was enough to wake up Alex Ovechkin and a sleepy Washington power play.
The Capitals' star left-winger went to work with his team enjoying a two-man advantage, scoring twice in 12 seconds to erase a 2-1 second-period deficit and paving the way for a 7-2 victory as Washington scored seven unanswered goals.
It was the fastest two goals Ovechkin has scored in his career and the third time he has found the net twice in a minute. His previous best time was 28 seconds. Ovechkin had scored only once in his previous six games.
Good thing for the Flames it's the only meeting between the teams this season.
"Every year he has about a six- or seven-game [goal] drought. Then when he comes out [of it], he goes about 15 games with 30 points and that's what's happening early on," Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau said of Ovechkin on Hockey Night in Canada's After Hours segment. "Now he has points in three straight games and [linemate Nicklas] Backstrom is starting to come alive. When those two guys are clicking they're a pretty good group."
Ovechkin and company had to be excited in the opening minutes of the second despite trailing by a goal and not having scored with the man advantage in 16 chances over a five-game stretch.
With the Flames whistled for too many men and Glencross for tripping, Ovechkin one-timed a Mike Green pass from the faceoff dot to the short side by goalie Miikka Kiprusoff.
Twelve seconds later, Green fed Ovechkin at the top of the faceoff circle and watched the Russian sniper wrist a shot to the far corner for his seventh goal in 11 games.
Backstrom also scored a power-play goal to cut into a 2-0 Calgary lead in the first period. Washington went 3-for-4 on the night when up a man, by far its best performance of the season after converting just four of its first 38 attempts for a 10.5 per cent success rate.
"We used the chances the way we're supposed to," Ovechkin, sporting the Capitals' red hard hat as game MVP, told HNIC's Scott Oake after the game. "We scored three power-play goals. We have the ability to score goals, especially 5-on-3, because I think we have the most skilled guys in the NHL."
Ovechkin leaves Calgary with his first two power-play goals of the season and perhaps a new linemate.
Boudreau dropped right-winger Mike Knuble to the second line centred by Brooks Laich and promoted Alexander Semin to play with Backstrom and Ovechkin.
The move paid off as the trio combined for four goals and 10 points. Backstrom added three assists, while Semin notched his sixth goal of the campaign in the second and collected two assists.
Washington scored six times in 14 minutes 40 seconds in the second period, with Calgary native Green, Matt Bradley and Dave Steckel, on a penalty shot, also finding the back of the net for the 7-4-0 Capitals.
"One of the things that Ovechkin does so well, besides play with energy, is he makes players around him play with that same enthusiasm and energy," said HNIC analyst Kelly Hrudey.
Calgary appeared on its way to a fourth win in five games when Olli Jokinen scored his second goal in as many outings 44 seconds after the opening faceoff and Glencross added his third goal midway through the first period.
Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth finished with 27 saves.
"We've had great goaltending when we've needed the great goaltending and we didn't let a 2-0 [deficit] fester," Boudreau said. "We had a penalty right after [Calgary's second goal] and he (Neuvirth) made a great save and that sort of kept us in [the game]."
