1. Alex Ovechkin, Washington:
After going scoreless for four games and 250-plus minutes, Ovechkin awoke with two third-period goals on Monday -- the former clinching the Capitals' 4-2 road win in Philly; the latter serving as a warning shot to those who doubt whether Ovechkin can carry Washington to its second-ever Game 7 playoff victory on Tuesday night.
2. Carey Price, Montreal:
The rookie goalie did not buckle under the weight of Game 7 pressure, stonewalling all 25 Bruins shots in the Habs' series-clinching 5-0 home win. The 20-year-old Price, who had allowed 10 Boston goals in Games 5 and 6 (both Montreal losses), rebounded to post his second playoff shutout and once again remind Hab fans of the last time a rookie Canadiens netminder dominated his competition in the playoffs -- Patrick Roy in the Cup-winning season of 1986.
3. Alexander Semin, Washington:
Ovechkin, understandably, will grab the lion's share of headlines from the Caps' Game 6 win. But Semin, hardly a second-fiddle performer throughout the series, produced the game-tying goal late in the second period, deftly converting a rebound-save off Philly goalie John Erskine into his third goal of the playoffs. Earlier in the period he set up a goal by Backstrom to bring Washington to within one goal of the Flyers.
12 years ago
