Alex Ovechkin helped the Washington Capitals start their Eastern Conference Final on the right foot with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday night.
Ovechkin scored his ninth goal of the 2017-18 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the opening frame before later assisting on a goal by Lars Ellers in the second period to bring his point total this postseason to 17, which leads his team in overall scoring.
The Russian climbed the ladder the 44th overall on the NHL all-time list of postseason goals with what was his 55th Stanley Cup Playoffs career goal.
The Capitals are feeling confident on the heels of a tough series against the Pittsburgh Penguins and with one road win in the books.
"We just realized we just have to play our way," Ovechkin said postgame. "It doesn't matter which position we are, which round it is, and you can see the effort in the guys, starting from [Holtby] and everyone, I think. Everybody was all in and everybody was paying the price."
Puck drops on Game 2 Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET before the series shifts back to Washington.