Caps’ Late Rally Stokes Playoff Hope – The Post

The comeback began with 8 minutes 30 seconds to play, when Ovechkin flipped a rebound over goalie Kari Lehtonen to cut the Thrashers’ lead to 3-2. It was the 22-year-old Russian’s second goal of the game and made him the first Capital to reach the 60-goal plateau since Dennis Maruk in 1981-82.

Ovechkin’s historic tally also set the stage for a stunning turn of events in the final minutes.

“We started working,” said Ovechkin, whose four-point night increased his league-leading point total to 106, equaling his career best. “It’s all about work with our team.”

As the Capitals poured it on late, Backstrom tied the game at 3 with four minutes remaining, firing a perfectly placed wrist shot from the slot over Lehtonen’s glove. Washington peppered the Thrashers goalie with 22 shots in the final 20 minutes.

Backstrom scored again 32 seconds later to put Washington ahead, 4-3, with help from an Ovechkin assist. Boyd Gordon clinched it with an empty-net goal with eight seconds left.

The Caps are one point out of the playoffs right now with six games to go. The two teams in front of them, Philadelphia and Boston, have seven and eight games left, respectively.

Ovechkin had two goals and two assists to for 60 goals and 106 points on the season. Nobody has had that many goals in one season this century.

Ovechkin hits 60-goal mark – The Wash. Times