Alex Ovechkin isn't backing down from Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Washington Capitals star scored two goals in his team's 6-3 series-clinching win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night, setting up a second-round matchup against Crosby's Penguins for the third consecutive postseason.
For the third consecutive #StanleyCup Playoffs, the @penguins and @Capitals will meet in the Second Round. pic.twitter.com/9YtD9NV9Pl
— NHL (@NHL) April 24, 2018
NHL playoffs 2018: Braden Holtby bounces back from benching as Capitals' saving grace
Pittsburgh won both of those series on its way to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, but that hasn't deterred Ovechkin from wanting another shot against his biggest rival.
"I can’t wait," Ovechkin told reporters after the game. "It’s a huge opportunity for us to take a step forward. Obviously it’s the Stanley Cup champion back-to-back. They know how to play. They know how to handle the pressure. It’s going to be a huge series for us.”
Washington will carry a lot of momentum into Game 1 at Capital One Arena after overcoming a 2-0 series deficit for just the second time in franchise history. The Capitals won four straight games to close out the Blue Jackets, advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight year.
The @Capitals advanced to the Second Round for the fourth straight postseason dating to 2015, the longest active streak in the NHL. #NHLStats #CBJvsWSH #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/gbaLCDR830
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 24, 2018
The second round has proved to be Washington's stumbling block as the Capitals have not advanced to the Eastern Conference finals since 1998, when they made their lone trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Ovechkin has come out on the losing end of six second-round series since making his league debut in the 2005-06 season.
He and the Capitals hope the seventh time proves lucky against the Penguins, who needed six games to eliminate Washington in 2016 and seven games last year. Pittsburgh clinched its spot in the Metropolitan Division showdown Sunday with an 8-5 win over the Flyers thanks to four goals from forward Jake Guentzel.