Ann 22009 NHL Playoffs – Round 2: Ovechkin & Crosby Put On A Show As Capitals Top Penguins 4-3
May 7th 2009 03:33
Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Two superstars. Two personalities. Two playing styles. On Monday, the two players completely stole the show as they collected their first career playoffs hat trick.
The Penguins captain started the show on his team's first powerplay with his sixth goal of the postseason early in the first period. That goal was the only one of the opening twenty minutes despite an overabundance of powerplays and 4-on-4 situations.
Ovechkin replied with his fifth of the playoffs early in the second period to make it 1-1. Then, halfway through the period Crosby put his team back in the lead with a second goal, scored in similar fashion as his first – a garbage goal inside Varlamov's crease. David Steckel returned the favor five minutes later and both teams returned to their lockers with the game tied at 2-2.
Washington's number 8 took over the third period with two goals scored in the span of three minutes. The first of the two was scored right after a face-off win by Nicklas Backstrom at the start of the Capitals' fifth powerplay – a laser shot that left no chance to Fleury. Shortly after, Ovechkin completed his hat trick by using Sergei Gonchar as a screen to beat Fleury high on the glove side. With a two-goal lead acting as their cushion, the Capitals then proceeded to play the same way they had played against the Rangers in the seventh game and against the Penguins in the first game by dumping the puck deep and preventing the Pens from entering their zone or staying too long in it. It didn't stop Crosby from getting his hat trick in the final minute of the game (another garbage goal) but that was just the Penguins' consolation prize as the Capitals take a 2-0 lead in the series while all the other teams are tied at one.
The sad thing is, after Crosby, no one else showed up for the Penguins. Their captain is a great player but he can't be expected to score in every game for them to win. As for the Capitals, Varlamov is doing a splendid job in net as he came up with several excellent saves again. This guy is really quick in his movements. It's like his legs are made of springs instead of bones. But there are no words to describe Alexander Ovechkin. Sure, he often looks uninvolved and has a tendency to watch the game while floating instead of helping out but when he has the puck, this guy is the most exciting player to watch in the league.
My 3 Stars:
3. Simeon Varlamov
2. Sidney Crosby
1. Alexander Ovechkin
The Penguins captain started the show on his team's first powerplay with his sixth goal of the postseason early in the first period. That goal was the only one of the opening twenty minutes despite an overabundance of powerplays and 4-on-4 situations.
Ovechkin replied with his fifth of the playoffs early in the second period to make it 1-1. Then, halfway through the period Crosby put his team back in the lead with a second goal, scored in similar fashion as his first – a garbage goal inside Varlamov's crease. David Steckel returned the favor five minutes later and both teams returned to their lockers with the game tied at 2-2.
Washington's number 8 took over the third period with two goals scored in the span of three minutes. The first of the two was scored right after a face-off win by Nicklas Backstrom at the start of the Capitals' fifth powerplay – a laser shot that left no chance to Fleury. Shortly after, Ovechkin completed his hat trick by using Sergei Gonchar as a screen to beat Fleury high on the glove side. With a two-goal lead acting as their cushion, the Capitals then proceeded to play the same way they had played against the Rangers in the seventh game and against the Penguins in the first game by dumping the puck deep and preventing the Pens from entering their zone or staying too long in it. It didn't stop Crosby from getting his hat trick in the final minute of the game (another garbage goal) but that was just the Penguins' consolation prize as the Capitals take a 2-0 lead in the series while all the other teams are tied at one.
The sad thing is, after Crosby, no one else showed up for the Penguins. Their captain is a great player but he can't be expected to score in every game for them to win. As for the Capitals, Varlamov is doing a splendid job in net as he came up with several excellent saves again. This guy is really quick in his movements. It's like his legs are made of springs instead of bones. But there are no words to describe Alexander Ovechkin. Sure, he often looks uninvolved and has a tendency to watch the game while floating instead of helping out but when he has the puck, this guy is the most exciting player to watch in the league.
My 3 Stars:
3. Simeon Varlamov
2. Sidney Crosby
1. Alexander Ovechkin
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