Columbus Blue Jackets: Evaluating Ovechkin’s Promise
Alexander Ovechkin promised that his Capitals will be able to win both games against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, but in the past the Capitals’ captain has a bad record with promises.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are ready to face the Washington Capitals at home tonight with a 2-0 series lead; however Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin believes that the Caps will win both games in Nationwide Arena and bring the series back to Washington tied a two according to a tweet from Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.
Alex Ovechkin repeats what he said the other night: Caps are going back to Washington for Game 5, and the series will be tied.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 17, 2018
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Now, Ovechkin’s confidence will remind many fans of a confident Mark Messier style of leadership from 1994. However this would not the first time “The Great Eight” has promised something and come up short. In 2015 against the New York Rangers, according to NYDaily News, Ovechkin promised that his Capitals would defeat the Rangers in game seven and advance to the conference finals.
The Capitals would go on to lose that night. Based on this, Columbus Blue Jackets fans shouldn’t necessarily worry about a promise made by Ovechkin regarding the playoffs.
Is it possible that Washington is able to accomplish the task, certainly. However, it is also possible that the Blue Jackets complete the sweep and the series never even returns to Washington.
Both of Alexander Ovechkin’s goals in game two came on the power play, and his chances in even-strength play weren’t necessarily great chances. If the Blue Jackets were able to limit that amount of power play opportunities they’ll greatly increase their chance of a win.
The Columbus Blue Jackets certainly heard Alexander Ovechkin’s promise for the two upcoming games and even though it may motivate the Captials, it’ll almost definitely motivate the Blue Jackets just as much. The rest of the series will likely depend on tonight’s game, so both teams will feel it’s a must win game.