Washington played as you might think a team trailing in the Stanley Cup Final would in beating the Golden Knights 3-2 on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena, meaning the Capitals showed a focus and determination and toughness that Vegas must now combat as things head to the nation’s capital for Games 3 and 4. Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, celebrates his goal with teammates at the bench during the second period in Game 2 of the team's NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, puts Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb into the boards during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) It was late in the second period of a hockey game the Washington Capitals had to win Wednesday night, his team leading 3-1, when the Hall of Fame winger and captain threw his body in front of a shot and in one motion from his knees cleared the puck through the neutral zone so as to avoid any danger for his side. I’m not sure Alex Ovechkin makes that play last year or many other seasons during his stellar career, not sure he embraced such little and yet significant moments, but he is now, and for it the Capitals have evened this best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final at a game apiece. You want the the greats of the greats at their absolute finest when winning the ultimate prize is at stake, and given this is Ovechkin’s first time in a final since entering the NHL in 2005, he seems intent on reaching such a standard. Washington played as you might think a team trailing in the series would in beating the Golden Knights 3-2 before an announced record gathering of 18,702 at T-Mobile Arena, meaning the Capitals showed a focus and determination and toughness that Vegas must now combat as things head to the nation’s capital for Games 3 and 4. Ovechkin gave the Capitals a lead they wouldn’t relinquish when blasting home a power-play goal at 5:38 of the second period, the score coming from what is his rented home with a man advantage, from the half boards on the left side of the face-off circle. Vegas certainly didn’t offer much resistance to his presence. I mean, the Knights know that’s where he likes to camp, yes? Yes? But while his first goal of this final was critical, other numbers for Ovechkin demonstrate how important his effort proved. He was credited with five hits and that block of a Colin Miller shot, active from the very first of his 25 shifts and 17:16 of ice time. There was an aggression to Ovechkin’s play, almost desperate in nature given the long odds of winning the Cup a 2-0 hole in the series would have presented his team. “I think that’s where the growth of Alex Ovechkin is this year, that those (little things) matter to him on a different level,” said Capitals coach Barry Trotz. “I think because of the fact we’ve had to lean on him so much this year, he’s growing as a person and growing as a player, but those little things are now important and necessary. “That block of the shot and the clear is something that, when you’re an elite goal scorer and a captain of the team and you’re doing that, trust me, the bench takes notice. Everybody takes notice. That’s what you want to follow. You want to follow someone who does whatever is necessary.” Ovechkin was one of several Capitals who played with such abandon, a team that lost its leading scorer in the playoffs when Evgeny Kuznetsov exited with an upper-body injury in the first period after a hit from Brayden McNabb. As much as the final was about Vegas not taking advantage of countless opportunities — the Knights at one point had it 5-on-3 for 1:09 of the third period and couldn’t score — it was just as much or more about Washington standing tall and strong and stingy in the face of adversity. The Capitals needed a terrific effort from center Lars Eller (who killed Vegas all evening) and what will, should Washington go on and win the series, be considered the biggest save in franchise history when Braden Holtby somehow stopped Alex Tuch’s shot from open space in front with two minutes remaining and the Knights having pulled goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. “Thank God (Holtby) is our goalie,” Ovechkin said. “He’s over there when we need him, and it was probably the save of the year for sure. Good response by all of us. We lost our top guy (in Kuznetsov) and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be fine. But (others) play extra minutes, extra shifts. “Whatever it takes.” It took that and a whole lot more to even this series, including a Hall of Fame player getting a little nasty and proving that 14 years later, one of the greatest to ever grace NHL ice can indeed grow and discover another level. From his first shift Wednesday night, Alex Ovechkin played as you would expect and want in such a moment. And for it, we have a series. More Golden Knights: Follow all of our Golden Knights coverage online at reviewjournal.com/GoldenKnights and @HockeyinVegas on Twitter. Contact columnist Ed Graney at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard on “The Press Box,” ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Follow @edgraney on Twitter.<doc-sep>Rob Carr/Getty Images Alexander Ovechkin waited 13 years to play a Stanley Cup Final game at home. On Saturday, he finally got the chance—and he delivered. Playing in front of a frenzied crowd at Capital One Arena, Ovechkin set the tone with seemingly boundless energy and led the Washington Capitals to a 3-1 Game 3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The Capitals now own a 2-1 series lead. Ovechkin burst out of the gate with eight first-period shots. And although none of those looks found the back of the net, it felt like a matter of when—not if—he would beat Marc-Andre Fleury. As it turns out, that moment came 70 seconds into the second period. Following a frenetic scramble that included a series of sensational stops by the Golden Knights goaltender, Ovechkin pounced on a loose puck and opened the scoring with some acrobatics: That tally represented Ovechkin's 14th of the postseason, tying him with John Druce for the franchise record, and his activity around the net provided Washington with a major spark. Video Play Button Videos you might like Evgeny Kuznetsov—who left Game 2 with an upper-body injury—followed suit a shade under 12 minutes later, capitalizing on an odd-man rush with a pinpoint snipe past Fleury to give the Caps a 2-0 lead: Not only did the Capitals channel Ovechkin's aggression and finish with a 26-22 edge in shots on goal, but their defense also looked as sharp as it has all postseason with blocked shots galore and disciplined denials of transition scoring opportunities. Perhaps the only lapse came courtesy of Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, who committed a serious blunder three minutes and 29 seconds into the third period when he tried to play the puck back in front of his net, which gifted Tomas Nosek a yawning cage to draw the Golden Knights within a goal: Otherwise, Holtby was stellar, as he logged 21 saves following a stout showing in Game 2. With their goalie standing tall, the Capitals seized a big opportunity late and sealed things when Devante Smith-Pelly registered his fifth goal of the playoffs following a brutal turnover by Shea Theodore: Now firing on all cylinders, Washington is two wins away from its first Stanley Cup. The Caps will have a chance to grab a commanding 3-1 series lead when the puck drops in the nation's capital Monday night.<doc-sep>The goal is the important play. It will be on the highlights, and it put the Washington Capitals ahead in the second period, and it’s what Alex Ovechkin has built a reputation — an entire life, really — on. How Ovechkin scored that goal matters, too, because he wasn’t in his La-Z-Boy in the left faceoff circle. Instead, he was tangled among bodies, a greasy spot he might not always have gone to, falling to the ice because that’s exactly what it took.<doc-sep>1. Alex Ovechkin, as you might have heard, is having a bit of a moment in these here playoffs. Most importantly, he’s been real good. He’s leading the playoffs in goals (tied with Mark Scheifele), second in points (two behind linemate Evgeny Kuznetsov). His 14 goals and 11 assists in 22 games equates to a 52-goal/41-assist 82-game pace (which would be his most productive regular season since 2009-10), and those stats have come while facing the two-time and reigning Vezina Trophy winner, the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion, a current Vezina finalist and the Conn Smythe Trophy front-runner (until he ran into Ovechkin, that is) in net (not to mention top defensive forwards and defensemen and playoff officiating). The 32-year-old Ovechkin assisted on a game-winning goal in the Columbus series, had a goal and two primary assists in the last three wins of the Pittsburgh set, had the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final in Tampa, and is on a two-game goal-scoring streak in the Stanley Cup Final. Ovechkin is powering the Caps’ 27.3 percent effective power play with five goals and ten points (as well as providing a presence that opens up options for the rest of the power play), and the Caps are outshooting (53.8 percent) and outscoring (63.3 percent) opponents with Ovechkin on the ice at five-on-five. In other words, not only has Ovechkin not been a passenger on this Caps playoff run, he’s been driving the bus... Fred Flintstone style. Trotz: "I think this is the most complete level that we've seen from Ovie. He's leading the right way...I think you could make a documentary on the emotions he's showed." — Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) June 3, 2018 Barry Trotz: “I think is the most complete level of Ovechkin we have seen...He’s imposing his will on other individuals.” — Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) June 3, 2018 Your browser does not support iframes. "He's never been more all in than he is with this team...He's hitting everything that moves. He's blocking shots in the slot....That puts everyone else on notice that they have to be all in too. "#NHLTonight discusses @ovi8 and the @Capitals' play in Game 3. pic.twitter.com/CKcuJQRWN0 — NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 3, 2018 A tone-setting goal, a primal celebration and a commitment to physical play—Alex Ovechkin was on another level in Game 3 https://t.co/N37r5ecigT — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 3, 2018 2. He’s also been an avatar for every Caps fan, openly displaying emotion and plenty of it. Alex Ovechkin is going to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in his career pic.twitter.com/OPWJzggq3i — Ian Oland (@ianoland) May 8, 2018 “You could probably do a documentary just on the emotions he’s gone through in these series.” -Barry Trotz on Alex Ovechkin #ALLCAPS — luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) June 3, 2018 Find someone who looks at you the way @ovi8 looks at @smithpelly23. pic.twitter.com/90AcRYiuVF — NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) June 3, 2018 If there was a channel showing Alex Ovechkin's every move and reaction during games, it would be must-see TV. On the emotive @ovi8:https://t.co/KlAEzMtI0M — Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) June 3, 2018 3. And so there’s a lovefest for Ovi in the media, and we’re all incredibly here for it: Wrote about the Alex Ovechkin experience. It is something. https://t.co/RAyqhOPwy0 | @NHLonNBCSports — Adam Gretz (@AGretz) June 3, 2018 Perspective: Alex Ovechkin is playing the most complete hockey of his career https://t.co/SsyzwjBp7O — Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 3, 2018 It's an Ovechkin world as Washington moves to within two wins of a first-ever Stanley Cup for the franchise. https://t.co/jJlcctkloG — Scott Burnside (@OvertimeScottB) June 3, 2018 From @frank_seravalli in Washington: Alex Ovechkin was the Capitals’ 235-pound wrecking ball on skates, flying at peak Ovie level to will Washington within two wins of the #StanleyCup.https://t.co/OxehvKWl1s #TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/DBkykhNj70 — TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) June 3, 2018 My column on an emotionally charged Ovechkin from Game 3 and how there is suddenly separation between the Capitals and the Golden Knights. https://t.co/US7lFEegjk — steve simmons (@simmonssteve) June 3, 2018 Two more wins and “legend” status gets turned up to “immortal.” O Captain! My Captain!<doc-sep>
LAS VEGAS — As Washington Capitals captain, Alex Ovechkin is supposed to show teammates the way to overcome whatever adversity comes their way. Ovechkin, 32, did exactly that Wednesday when he helped the Capitals cope with the loss of injured center Evgeny Kuznetsov by delivering an important power play goal to help Washington post a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights to tie the best-of-seven series 1-1. The big issue now for the Capitals is the health of Kuznetsov, their leading point producer, who had to leave the game with an undisclosed injury after taking a heavy check from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb with 5:22 left in the first period. At the time, the Golden Knights were leading 1-0. In Kuznetsov’s absence, several Capitals stepped up to fill the void. Center Lars Eller, who moved up to play with Ovechkin, tied the game with 2:33 left in the first period. He finished with a goal and two assists. Ovechkin scored a power play goal at 5:38 of the second period to give the Capitals the lead for good. Defenseman Brooks Orpik then scored his third career goal in 146 playoff games and his first goal since February 2016 to increase Washington’s lead to 3-1. More:Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov injured in Game 2 More:Braden Holtby's sensational save preserves Capitals win Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore then cut the Golden Knights’ deficit to a goal with a power play tally with 2:13 left in the second period. In the third period, the Capitals penalty killers provided a boost, thwarting a 5-on-3 power play opportunity for 68 seconds. While the Capitals were facing 5-on-3 and 5-on-4 short-handed situations, Braden Holtby made nine saves. Holtby also made a big stick save on Alex Tuch late in the third period. Before this season, the Capitals have a long history of playoff frustration. But they have proved to be resilient and resourceful this season. Ovechkin has led the way - by example and with production. He now has 13 goals in the playoffs and finished Game 2 with three shots, five hits and a blocked shot.