Ovechkin demonstrated against the Canadiens that he can turn back the clock during the playoffs, and the extra rest from having five days off since the Capitals closed out that series with a 4-1 Game 5 win Wednesday should be helpful for him to recharge his battery for the next round and, he hopes, beyond.

The Washington Capitals are getting ready for their first second-round playoff series since 2018. Washington defeated the Montreal Canadiens to advance to this round and will now be taking on the Carolina Hurricanes.

A month after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal-scoring record, Alex Ovechkin is in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since leading the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018.