Ovechkin Has One Goal in Mind

He Isn't Scoring Much, but He's Contributing More as Capitals Try to Force Game 7

If Alex Ovechkin's inspired performance Saturday was any indication, the NHL's leading scorer has begun to adapt to the postseason's tight-checking style. But the question entering tonight's game in Philadelphia is whether it has come too late.

Down three games to two, Ovechkin and the Capitals must beat the Flyers at raucous Wachovia Center to force the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series back to Washington for a seventh and deciding game tomorrow.

Ovechkin has only one goal in the series and did not register a point in the Capitals' 3-2 Game 5 victory. But he found other ways to contribute and looked a lot more like the player who dominated the regular season, giving him and the Capitals hope that he's on the verge of a breakout.

"You just can't keep a great player down forever," Coach Bruce Boudreau said after yesterday's optional practice in Arlington. "Everyone looks at Alex and says if he doesn't get two goals, 'What's wrong?' But he's a major component of our team other than just scoring."

Ovechkin took shorter shifts and delivered some heavy hits, including a highlight-caliber hip check on Flyers center Jim Dowd. He managed to slip loose of Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen's smothering coverage long enough to generate scoring opportunities and finished with a series-high six shots on net. He also drew a first-period hooking infraction on Timonen that resulted in a power-play goal, and screened goaltender Philadelphia goaltender Martin Biron on Alexander Semin's third-period winner.

"That was my best game, for sure," said Ovechkin, who also has four assists. "The first two, three games I was nervous because it was a new experience for me. But I'm getting more comfortable every game, every moment."

His offensive struggles have been somewhat surprising considering the 22-year-old led the NHL in goals (65), points (112), shots (446) and is considered a front-runner for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league's MVP.

But Ovechkin's first playoff experience has been an eye-opener, as it often is for elite forwards. The defense is tighter, space is harder to find, shooting lanes are more congested and the level of competition is higher than it is during the 82-game regular season schedule.

Ovechkin has also had to contend with a team that has geared its game plan toward stopping him. Timonen rarely allows Ovechkin to get more than a few strides away, and positions himself so the all-star left wing's only option is to go to the outside rather than cutting to the middle of the ice, where he's more likely do damage. On the rare occasion Ovechkin does get away from Timonen, he also must find his way around shutdown forwards Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.

But there is a side effect of paying so much attention to a single player, as the Flyers found out in Game 5.

"Alex was on the ice for all three goals, and the reason [Sergei] Fedorov was wide open is because their defense was all over Alex," Boudreau said. "When he's out there, it makes for room for other guys."

Ovechkin kicked off his playoff debut with a bang, scoring a dramatic game-winner in the series opener. But he had not been much of a factor in that game until scoring, then notched only a single assist in Games 2 and 3, both Capitals losses.

The all-star left wing was more assertive in Game 4, finishing with a game-high 10 hits and two assists in a 4-3 double-overtime loss. He carried that momentum into Saturday.

Ovechkin created space for himself by moving around rather than remaining stationary and waiting for a pass, making it harder for Timonen and his partner, Braydon Coburn, to target him. He made shorter passes, used linemates Fedorov and Viktor Kozlov more effectively and went to the front of the net, particularly on the power play, in an effort to screen Biron and seek out rebounds.

"He didn't get a goal [on Saturday], but he still did things to help us win the hockey game," forward Brooks Laich said. "He drew some penalties and was a distraction, which opens up the ice for other guys. When he goes to the net, their team goes, 'Oh my God, Alex is here I have to cover him.' Maybe that takes their mind off someone else, who might be there to get a backdoor goal.' "

"We're not worried one bit about the way Ovie is playing," Laich added. "The chances are there, and the goals are going to be there, too. It's just a matter of time. They are not having any fun playing against Alex Ovechkin. I think their D-men are hating it every night. It makes for a long night trying to cover that guy."

Ovechkin hopes it will be two more nights.

"Both teams have lots of pressure now," he said. "If we win, then the next game will be the final one for both teams. And if we lose, we're done and our season will be over."