Ovechkin downplayed it as “a goal is a goal,” but the OT winner put an exclamation point on a vintage performance by the 39-year-old winger, who also led Washington with seven hits and scored on the power play late in the first period.

Alex Ovechkin, who recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history, has no desire to step out of the spotlight as evidenced by the inspired performance he delivered in the Washington Capitals' opening game of the Stanley Cup playoffs.