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.

In a thrilling Game 1 of the first-round playoff series between the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens, Alex Ovechkin made NHL history by scoring his first playoff overtime goal. The Capitals secured a 3-2 victory,

Washington's Logan Thompson put no weight on his left skate while being helped off, while Montreal's Sam Montembeault suffered a lower-body injury.