Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
April 24, 2009 - Just four games into his second playoff run, Alex Ovechkin was already facing elimination. After one of the best seasons in franchise history, including the best of the Ovechkin Era, it was a surprise to many to see the 2nd-seeded Caps on the brink of being sent home early. While the Capitals had delivered four solid efforts against their rivals from New York, the Capitals hadn't been able to solve Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who was tied for second in the NHL with an incredible .946 save percentage through the first four games. The Great 8, in particular, was severely snake-bitten. After leading the NHL with 56 goals, Ovechkin had just one on a playoff-leading 35 shots. His 2.9 shooting percentage was also dead last among players with a goal. With the season on the line, Ovechkin delivered his best playoff game in his career so far. On his first shift, he flattened Scott Gomez with a huge hit that drew a retaliatory penalty. Every shift he was on the ice it felt like he was creating chances. The Capitals finally solved Lundqvist, going up 3-0 early in the second period, but Ovechkin was still unable to get one by the Rangers' netminder. King Henrik wasn't going to let him score an easy goal, so on his final shift of the middle stanza, Ovechkin went out and scored one of the greatest playoff goals of all time. After evading hits from Chris Drury and Derek Morris, Ovechkin backhanded a shot past Lundqvist while falling with Aaron Voros draped over his back. Personally, I think the only better goal he scored was his legendary goal against the Coyotes, which many consider the best goal ever scored in the history of the NHL. With the Caps up by four Ovechkin's ice time was limited in the 3rd period, though he did manage one last big counter hit on Rangers tough-guy Colton Orr in the final frame. The Capitals would go on to complete the 3-1 comeback and win their first playoff series of the Ovechkin Era. While the goal will forever live on in Ovechkin's top 10 plays list, his performance the rest of the night should also be remembered as an example of what peak Alex Ovechkin could bring to the table - big hits, tons of skill, and being as close to unstoppable as a player can be in the NHL.
- 1st Period -
0:00 - Intro
1:11 - Hit on Zherdev
1:33 - Huge hit on Gomez, draws penalty on retaliation
2:33 - Flattens Callahan with big counter hit, then delivers another big hit on Rosival
2:54 - Hit on Girardi
- 2nd Period -
3:19 - Shot while falling
4:33 - Between the legs deke and chance
4:52 - Controls bouncing puck and gets a shot off
5:12 - Goal, dangles two Rangers and scores while falling
7:16 - Interview with Smokin' Al Koken
- 3rd Period -
9:08 - Big counter hit on Colton Orr
9:38 - Dangle creates chance for Fehr
9:49 - Ovech-kam
10:25 - Final buzzer
More classic Ovechkin games - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH8bFa0t7qpQfBYEXybnEr9NbAqFcPyyq
April 24, 2009 - Just four games into his second playoff run, Alex Ovechkin was already facing elimination. After one of the best seasons in franchise history, including the best of the Ovechkin Era, it was a surprise to many to see the 2nd-seeded Caps on the brink of being sent home early. While the Capitals had delivered four solid efforts against their rivals from New York, the Capitals hadn't been able to solve Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who was tied for second in the NHL with an incredible .946 save percentage through the first four games. The Great 8, in particular, was severely snake-bitten. After leading the NHL with 56 goals, Ovechkin had just one on a playoff-leading 35 shots. His 2.9 shooting percentage was also dead last among players with a goal. With the season on the line, Ovechkin delivered his best playoff game in his career so far. On his first shift, he flattened Scott Gomez with a huge hit that drew a retaliatory penalty. Every shift he was on the ice it felt like he was creating chances. The Capitals finally solved Lundqvist, going up 3-0 early in the second period, but Ovechkin was still unable to get one by the Rangers' netminder. King Henrik wasn't going to let him score an easy goal, so on his final shift of the middle stanza, Ovechkin went out and scored one of the greatest playoff goals of all time. After evading hits from Chris Drury and Derek Morris, Ovechkin backhanded a shot past Lundqvist while falling with Aaron Voros draped over his back. Personally, I think the only better goal he scored was his legendary goal against the Coyotes, which many consider the best goal ever scored in the history of the NHL. With the Caps up by four Ovechkin's ice time was limited in the 3rd period, though he did manage one last big counter hit on Rangers tough-guy Colton Orr in the final frame. The Capitals would go on to complete the 3-1 comeback and win their first playoff series of the Ovechkin Era. While the goal will forever live on in Ovechkin's top 10 plays list, his performance the rest of the night should also be remembered as an example of what peak Alex Ovechkin could bring to the table - big hits, tons of skill, and being as close to unstoppable as a player can be in the NHL.
- 1st Period -
0:00 - Intro
1:11 - Hit on Zherdev
1:33 - Huge hit on Gomez, draws penalty on retaliation
2:33 - Flattens Callahan with big counter hit, then delivers another big hit on Rosival
2:54 - Hit on Girardi
- 2nd Period -
3:19 - Shot while falling
4:33 - Between the legs deke and chance
4:52 - Controls bouncing puck and gets a shot off
5:12 - Goal, dangles two Rangers and scores while falling
7:16 - Interview with Smokin' Al Koken
- 3rd Period -
9:08 - Big counter hit on Colton Orr
9:38 - Dangle creates chance for Fehr
9:49 - Ovech-kam
10:25 - Final buzzer
More classic Ovechkin games - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH8bFa0t7qpQfBYEXybnEr9NbAqFcPyyq
