Big names make big plays in Game 4 win for Capitals
Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the New York Rangers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. (April 30, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
WASHINGTON -- The Capitals' big boys made a big impact in Game 4.
Alex Ovechkin -- despite playing a modest 15:09, eighth-most among the 12 Capitals forwards -- scored the game's first goal in a dominant first period for the home side.
Nicklas Backstrom, who hadn't scored since a double-OT winner to defeat the Bruins in Game 2 of the opening round, bulled past two Rangers to find space for a quick shot to restore the Caps' lead in the second.
And Mike Green, one of the true forgotten men of the Capitals, blasted home the power-play winner.
These were three of the Caps' stars during their run-and-gun days under Bruce Boudreau, and all three contributed to the 3-2 win Saturday that evened the series.
"We needed that today," Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby said. "We've been relying on our character guys and it's great to see those guys have good games, especially Greenie. He's been working hard and doing all the little things right. To see it rewarded on the stat sheet is huge."
Dale Hunter still relied on what he likes to call his "foot soldiers," the glue guys who blocked 26 Rangers shots and won 30 of 55 faceoffs. Capitals forward Matt Hendricks went 9-0 on faceoffs, according to the stat sheet.
Ovechkin, who let Dan Girardi's point shot through that led to Artem Anisimov's tying goal in the second period, still didn't see much ice time outside of the opening period, but Backstrom and Alexander Semin, who attempted 10 shots on goal and mixed it up physically much more than he had been, were among the Capitals' leaders in ice time among the forwards.
"We really came out hard today," said Backstrom, who shouldered Anisimov down, then pushed past Anton Stralman to the slot to score off Jason Chimera's feed in the second. "I think that's the kind of guys we are in this group."
Ovechkin also got plenty of notice for his leaping hit on Girardi in the second, which drew a charging minor and no further attention from the NHL. Girardi said Ovechkin made head contact. Ovechkin said otherwise, maintaining that the hit was shoulder-to-shoulder initially.
"I just missed the puck. I tried to kick the puck and I saw he was coming, so I just got to protect myself," Ovechkin said.
Either way, the Capitals' captain will be on the Garden ice for Game 5 Monday. He might not play as much as he used to, but as evidenced by his game-winner in Game 2 and his exuberant play in the first two periods Saturday, he's still plenty dangerous.
As are his talented mates.
"You just see the way they're handling the puck, passing the puck. They just show a ton of confidence," Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner said. "They always have confidence, but [now] they take it to another level."
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