Alex Ovechkin didn't know how he would feel after not skating, let alone playing hockey, for the past 10 days while in quarantine.
Turned out to be pure jubilation.
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Alex Ovechkin didn't know how he would feel after not skating, let alone playing hockey, for the past 10 days while in quarantine.
After Ovechkin missed the previous four games because of COVID-19 protocols, the high-scoring forward showed his career-long flair for the dramatic by beating Tuukka Rask with a perfect shot 28 seconds into overtime.
Coach Peter Laviolette wanted to keep Ovechkin under 15 minutes because he hadn't been on the ice for so long, and he noticed the 35-year-old improve as the game went on.
Rookie Vitek Vanecek made 40 saves, including one spectacular diving stop in a first period heavily tilted toward Boston, in his sixth consecutive start. Ovechkin's longtime running mate, Nicklas Backstrom, scored his fifth goal of the season, while Washington continued to get contributions down the lineup: defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk's first goal since joining the team, and Richard Panik's first of the season on the power play.
“We made a few mistakes,” Cassidy said. “At the end of the day we battled back, so I’m looking at it as a positive.”
“We shouldn’t have lost this game,” Marchand said. “We had a lot of opportunities. We easily could have won that game.”
“It starts with his drive and competitiveness,” new Boston captain Patrice Bergeron said. "He never takes a shift off or a practice off, really. That’s why he’s been around for so long and he’s been so successful."
“It is a situation when rules are rules, right?" Ovechkin said. "It sucks, obviously. No one wants to be suspended; no one wants to put yourself in that position. But you know it’s over, so you learn from it and move forward.”
Laviolette did not have an update on when Kuznetsov or Samsonov might be cleared to skate or play.
Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) reaches for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Boston Bruins left wing Nick Ritchie (21) scores a goal against Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) skates with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is mobbed by his teammates after he scored the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
In his first game since Jan. 19, Ovechkin scored the overtime winner to help the Washington Capitals beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 Saturday night in a showdown between the top teams in the NHL’s East Division.
Washington Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrate after an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
After Ovechkin missed the previous four games because of COVID-19 protocols, the high-scoring forward showed his career-long flair for the dramatic by beating Tuukka Rask with a perfect shot 28 seconds into overtime.
“It was fun,” said Ovechkin, who also had an assist while being eased back in with 14 minutes of ice time. “It was kind of tough ... but we battled through it and we’ll take the win."
Ovechkin's goal salvaged two points for the Capitals, who blew a 3-0 lead by allowing goals to Nick Ritchie, Brad Marchand and then Charlie McAvoy with 57.3 seconds left in regulation. In the process, Washington's captain tied Hall of Famer Mike Gartner for seventh on the career goal-scoring list with his 708th.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Coach Peter Laviolette wanted to keep Ovechkin under 15 minutes because he hadn't been on the ice for so long, and he noticed the 35-year-old improve as the game went on.
“In the second period, I thought he was better, and in the third period I thought he was better and the fourth period he looked like he wanted to finish the game,” Laviolette said. “For him to come out of the 10 days and play a game the way he did, I thought that that was a real bonus for our team.”
Of course, Ovechkin didn’t do it alone. The Capitals remained unbeaten in regulation at 6-0-3 and extended their franchise-best point streak to start a season to nine games on the back of some of the players who excelled in Ovechkin's absence.
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Rookie Vitek Vanecek made 40 saves, including one spectacular diving stop in a first period heavily tilted toward Boston, in his sixth consecutive start. Ovechkin's longtime running mate, Nicklas Backstrom, scored his fifth goal of the season, while Washington continued to get contributions down the lineup: defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk's first goal since joining the team, and Richard Panik's first of the season on the power play.
Former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara played almost 21 minutes in his first game against his old team, which didn't see him as a full-time player at age 43. Chara — who doesn't wear a visor — took a puck to the face late in the first period but returned for the second and didn't miss a shift.
Boston outshot Washington 43-23 despite playing without injured wingers Jake DeBrusk and Ondrej Kase and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. Coach Bruce Cassidy believed the Bruins were the better team for most of the night.
Washington Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
“We made a few mistakes,” Cassidy said. “At the end of the day we battled back, so I’m looking at it as a positive.”
David Pastrnak, who tied Ovechkin for the most goals in the league last season, made his season debut following offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.
Rask allowed three goals on the first 12 shots he faced and finished with 19 saves. The Capitals beat the Bruins for the 17th time in 19 regular-season games dating to 2015.
Washington Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) battle for position during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
“We shouldn’t have lost this game,” Marchand said. “We had a lot of opportunities. We easily could have won that game.”
CHARA VS. BRUINS
This was the first time Chara had faced the Bruins since April 11, 2006, as a member of the Ottawa Senators. The 2011 Stanley Cup-winning captain is still revered by his former teammates, especially those who played with him the past 14 years.
Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) and Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
“It starts with his drive and competitiveness,” new Boston captain Patrice Bergeron said. "He never takes a shift off or a practice off, really. That’s why he’s been around for so long and he’s been so successful."
OVECHKIN ACCEPTS PUNISHMENT
Ovechkin only missed four or more games in a season twice in his first 15 years in the NHL. He missed these four because he joined his three fellow Russian teammates unmasked in a hotel room, which is a violation of the league's pandemic protocols.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck next to Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
“It is a situation when rules are rules, right?" Ovechkin said. "It sucks, obviously. No one wants to be suspended; no one wants to put yourself in that position. But you know it’s over, so you learn from it and move forward.”
KUZNETSOV, SAMSONOV STILL OUT
While Ovechkin and defenseman Dmitry Orlov were removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list Saturday, center Evgeny Kuznetsov and goaltender Ilya Samsonov remained on it. Orlov skated with the team but missed a fifth consecutive game.
Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) stops the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Laviolette did not have an update on when Kuznetsov or Samsonov might be cleared to skate or play.
UP NEXT
The teams face off again Monday night for the second of eight meetings this season.
More AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
CORRECTS GOAL SCORED TO RICHARD PANIK - Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates with defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) after teammate Richard Panik's goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) reaches for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Boston Bruins left wing Nick Ritchie (21) scores a goal against Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) skates with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is mobbed by his teammates after he scored the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime. (AP PhotoNick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)