Washington Capitals

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) is knocked off balance by Alex Ovechkin (8) before taking a hit from Washington Capitals' Matt Niskanen during the first period of Game 3 in an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinal hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 1, 2017. Crosby left the game and did not return. The Capitals won in overtime 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) takes a hit from Washington Capitals' Matt Niskanen during the first period of Game 3 in an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinal hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 1, 2017. Crosby left the game and did not return. The Capitals won in overtime 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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FILE - At left, in a Jan. 11, 2017, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, winds up for a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in Washington. At right, in a Jan. 14, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) shoots against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit. To get to their first Eastern Conference final in the past decade, Ovechkin and the Capitals will have to go through the Crosby and the Penguins, who have quite simply had their number in the playoffs. (AP Photo/File)

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Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shake hands after the Capitals defeated the Maple Leafs in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Sunday, April 23, 2017. The Capitals beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 on Sunday to capture the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series in six games. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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FILE- This Feb. 11, 2017 file photo shows Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, celebrating his goal with Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Washington. The Stanley Cup-hungry Washington Capitals open perhaps their last best chance to win it against the Maple Leafs at the start of their contending window. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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FILE - In this March 25, 2017, file photo, Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby watches during an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes, in Washington. With Alex Ovechkin's ice time and Holtby's workload down, the Capitals are well-positioned for a Stanley Cup run. (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File)

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FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2016, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, in Washington. Ovechkin and other players are raising doubts about the finality of the NHL announcement that it won’t participate in the 2018 Olympics. Capitals superstar reiterated his intention to represent Russia next year in South Korea, calling the league’s decision not to go a “bluff.”(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

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Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby, right, pulls his mask off as Arizona Coyotes players celebrate a goal by Alexander Burmistrov during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 31, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) is looked at by a trainer after a high stick to the face by Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (not pictured) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

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Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) scores a goal against Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) and goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

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Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) watch as a shot by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (not pictured), of Russia, scores a goal on the power play during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, is congratulated by Dmitry Orlov (9), of Russia, John Carlson (74) and Matt Niskanen (2) on scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild on the power play during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

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FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2017, file photo, Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in Washington. The Capitals have a total of 42 man games lost this season and have only dealt with a hand injury that sidelined forward Andre Burakovsky 15 games and upper-body ailments that cost T.J. Oshie 13. Defenseman Brooks Orpik believes the Capitals’ fortunes are a combination of off-ice injury prevention techniques and luck, while the team’s brass thinks it’s also about taxing players less.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

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Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) scores a goal against Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky during the shootout of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Washington. The Capitals won 2-1. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2017, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Washington. Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel says he and national hockey federations need to know by the end of April whether the NHL will participate in Winter Olympics next year, or not. Capitals and Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin has said he plans to play in South Korea, even if he has to leave his NHL team while it is playing games. “(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

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FILE - In this Tuesday, March 14, 2017, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, looks on from the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in Washington. The NHL’s divisional playoff format is drawing criticism because two of the top three teams in the league could meet in the first round. The Metropolitan Division’s Capitals, Penguins, Blue Jackets and Rangers all have more points than any team in the Atlantic, yet one of them is guaranteed to be eliminated early. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

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Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) cannot reach a shot as Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) scores a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) jumps on a rebound in front of Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin (27) tries to get a rebound in front of Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) and defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Washington Capitals during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)