Winnipeg Jets aim for postseason spot, edge Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime -NHL Update
Winnipeg is hoping for a last moment push for a playoff spot as Jets edged eighth place Washington Capitals, 4-3, Friday night, March 23, 2012, at the sold-out Verizon Center in Washington, District of Columbia.
Capitals captain, Alex Ovechkin, was hot as usual as the player potted his ninth goal of the past nine contests, but still, it was not even to keep Winnipeg at bay.
Jets had to work hard to keep themselves alive in the match as they forced the overtime extension and had a couple of desperate attempts in the five minute round to take the much needed two points.
"I saw us go into desperation mode," Jets’ Tim Stapleton said. "I don't think I've really seen that all year between us. We were just pressing and pressing and we stuck to the game plan, just throwing shots on net."
Jason Chimera kicked off the scoring with his 18th of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season at the 16:06 mark in round-one of the contest.
Alex Ovechkin widened the gap to 3-0 by the 5:47 mark in the second period with two back-to-back goals, bringing his total for this season to 35 now.
Ben Maxwell and Bryan Little gave Winnipeg some hope with consecutive goals after Ovechkin’s second, nearly a minute apart, entering the third period down by one.
"It's stupid play by us," said Washington's Alex Ovechkin. "And we just totally stop playing after when they score first goal. And we played so different style of hockey in the third period, so they just put puck deep and get pressure and they score another
one."
Spencer Machacek fired the equaliser with less than four minutes remaining in round-three for his first of the season while tipping in the puck on an extremely inaccurate corner.
Tim Stapleton carried the momentum and got the game-winner in the overtime period on the redirection from Dustin Byfuglien.
Winnipeg Jets have eight games remaining and could potentially make it back into the playoff race. They have the next against Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Washington Capitals will be hosting Minnesota Wild on Sunday in a must win matchup to retain their postseason position.
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