Tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, it wasn't just how Alexander Ovechkin scored his latest instant classic goal but when he scored it for the Washington Capitals.
At 2-1 in the third period and with the Sabres stealing the momentum, Ovechkin took the puck in the defensive zone, motored past two Buffalo players and then undressed Henrik Tallinder -- all before sliding the puck and himself past goalie Patrick Lalime for what would be the game-winning goal.
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"I was tired and I just fell, and I shoot," Ovechkin said after the game. "It was in, so that's pretty cool ... You always want to do some crazy things."
When asked how this tally ranks with some of his other classics, he said "I don't know. I don't know. I mean, Top 20?" Scary part is, he might have 19 others that could give it a challenge.
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Washington Coach Bruce Boudreau said there are certain games when Ovechkin is clearly "on" and the potential for a goal like this exists, but that tonight's game against Buffalo wasn't necessarily one of those times; at least at first.
"This was a determination goal," said Boudreau. "He got it, made a move, they were checking him, he was losing the puck. He was just determined; like, 'they took one away from me, and they're not taking another away from me.'"
Boudreau was referencing a goal wiped away on a goalie interference call. "Once he scored the goal that was called back, he turned it up again. He was mad, and he was going to make up for it," said Boudreau.
The Capitals are now 14-1-1 when Ovechkin scores a goal this season. And that's why they chant "M-V-P" for the guy in D.C.
