Facing the possibility of elimination, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin acknowledged Monday’s Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning is “probably” the biggest game of his career.
The Capitals are down 3-2 in the series, and their season will end if they lose. Washington has lost three straight, but they have gone the entire year without losing four in a row.
“It’s two steps, and you’re in the Stanley Cup Final,” Ovechkin said. “We just have to play our best. We can’t lose. They have the advantage right now, but we have to win the game and go back and play Game 7 in Tampa.”
Ovechkin has made strides this postseason, finally advancing past the second round. The 32-year-old Russian has also recorded 11 goals and 10 assists — matching his playoff career high.
But the Capitals are looking to avoid a historic collapse.
Over the last 50 years, teams are 21-0 during a conference or Stanley Cup final when taking a 2-0 lead on the road. The Capitals, of course, took the first two games in Tampa.
Washington, meanwhile, appeared loose after its morning skate. Coach Barry Trotz made multiple jokes with reporters, while forward T.J. Oshie jokingly started to run out of the room to “avoid” the media.
“We’ve never been this far in playoffs,” Oshie said. “So, yeah, tonight is the most important game and we’ve got the maturity and excitement in here to embrace that feeling and have some fun with it.”
Game 6 is at 8 p.m. at Capital One Arena.
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