Ovechkin, Capitals keep postseason hopes alive with 3-0 victory over Penguins
To reach the postseason, the Capitals must defeat Columbus in the season finale Tuesday night and hope Philadelphia fails to win either of its last two games.
WASHINGTON — Logan Thompson stopped 24 shots, and the Washington Capitals kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 Sunday in perhaps the final home of Alex Ovechkin’s brilliant career. To reach the postseason, the Capitals must defeat Columbus in the season finale Tuesday night, and hope Philadelphia fails to win either of its last two games. The 40-year-old Ovechkin intends to wait until the offseason to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd season.
The all-time NHL leader in goals with 929, Ovechkin has played in every game this season and leads the Capitals in goals (32) and points (63). The spirited, sellout crowd saluted Ovechkin during the game with chants of “One more year! ” and “Ovi!
Ovi! Ovi! ” Ovechkin helped seal the victory by picking up an assist on an empty-net goal by Connor McMichael, who scored earlier in the third period.
Pittsburgh last week clinched a postseason berth and home-ice advantage in the opening round. But the rivalry between these teams runs deep, and the Penguins tried hard to throw a wet blanket on the Capitals’ playoff hopes and Ovechkin’s big day. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was back on the ice after he and several teammates received a day off Saturday when Washington won in Pittsburgh 6-3.