on difficulty defending Alex Ovechkin: ‘You know what he’s going to do, and he still scores’

admin | March 23, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

on difficulty defending Alex Ovechkin: ‘You know what he’s going to do, and he still scores’

There is no team outside of the Southeast/Metropolitan Division that Alex Ovechkin has tormented more than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ovechkin has 77 career points (44g, 33a) in 58 games against Toronto and added to that total on Wednesday night.

The Great Eight potted two goals in the Capitals’ 7-3 loss on home ice to give him 23 on the season. The performance had the Maple Leafs gushing about getting to share the ice with the legendary Capitals captain and how it’s impossible to think you can keep him off the scoresheet despite knowing his favorite spot on the ice.

Both of those goals came against goaltender Joseph Woll who Ovechkin has scored on three different times in his career. The first was a rocket from Ovechkin’s office in the left circle during a Capitals power play.

“It’s crazy,” Woll said. “You know he’s there. You know what he’s going to do, and he still scores. That’s just how good of a player he is.

“It’s pretty cool to be out there with guys like that. One of, if not the best goal-scorers of all time. He shoots the puck a lot so it’s fun to get to play against him.”

While annoyed with some of his team’s defensive work against Ovechkin, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe couldn’t help but smile and joke about how tough an ask that can be.

“I guess we’re going to have to cover those one-timers in the pre-scout,” Keefe said. “World-class player and if we can get the two points and still allow him to add to his total, I guess we’ll take that. Everybody leaves somewhat happy.”

Ovechkin was matched in the game by Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews. Matthews, perhaps inspired by the matchup, notched two goals of his own in the contest. A third, which would have capped off his seventh hat trick of the year, was waived off due to a coach’s challenge for offside.

Despite his own personal success, Matthews still found time to show reverence to one of the league’s all-time greats.

“I think we’re all kind of running out of words to describe it,” Matthews said. “He’s the greatest goal-scorer of all-time. It’s always fun to play against him and still watch him get it done and the excitement and passion he gets when he scores goals. Obviously, we’d like to see him not score against us but when you’re that good, you’re bound to get opportunities and he makes good on them most of the time.”

Before the game, Ovechkin shared his hope that Matthews becomes the first player in the 21st century to hit the 70-goal mark in a season. The Maple Leafs superstar has 57 goals through 67 games this season. If he does so, Matthews would top Ovechkin’s 65-goal 2007-08 season which currently tops the 21st century leaderboard.

Max Domi, who assisted on both of Matthews’ tallies, described playing against Ovechkin as special.

“You kinda look over and go, ‘Wow, that’s going to be the greatest goal scorer of all time,’” Domi said. “Then you look over and Auston is right there too. It’s crazy to think that Alex can break Wayne’s record potentially, hopefully. Then Auston is going to be sniffing at that, too.

“It’s really special for guys like us to be able to play on the same ice surface as those guys and have fun and enjoy the moment because those are two generational talents and it’s great to see them go head to head like that.”

The Capitals and Maple Leafs will face off one last time this season on March 28 at Scotiabank Arena. When Ovechkin has played in Toronto, he has scored at almost a goal-per-game pace, finding the back of the net 24 times in 28 outings.