Ovie primed for Caps' Cup run

WASHINGTON - Alex Ovechkin heard the chants loud and clear.

"We want 50! We want 50!"

He didn't need any extra encouragement.

Ovechkin scored twice to finish the regular season with an NHL-leading 49 goals and played almost the final two minutes of the Washington Capitals' 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night, trying to reach 50 for the eighth time in his career.

The Russian superstar will have to settle for his seventh Rocket Richard Trophy as the top goal scorer, while Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid takes the Art Ross Trophy with a league-leading 108 points.

The Metropolitan Division-champion Capitals will open the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets this week.

"The effort was there, and you can see I'm ready for playoffs in pretty good shape," Ovechkin said after a playing 6:04 of the final 8:10.

"I had a pretty good chance at the end, but it is what it is. The most important thing is still ahead of us. The second season starts right now."

Washington won 12 of its final 15 games, and Ovechkin strengthened his case for the Hart Trophy (league MVP) with nine goals and six assists over that stretch.

At 32, he's the oldest player to lead the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins in 1974-75.

His teammates did their best trying to get him to 50, and Ovechkin fired 18 shots in pursuit of the milestone.

"We looked for him a little bit more than usual," said center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who assisted on Ovechkin's 48th goal.

Losing in regulation sends New Jersey to the Atlantic bracket in the Eastern Conference playoffs to face the division champion: either the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning. It's the Bruins if they beat Florida on Sunday night, and the Lightning if Tampa Bay wins.

"We like our matchup against anybody," Devils center Brian Boyle said.

"I think we match up well against anyone. It's been a good season. Now the fun starts."

Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche became the last team to qualify for the playoffs by dumping the St. Louis Blues 5-2 in Denver on Saturday.

Jonathan Bernier stopped 32 shots for Colorado, which finished with 95 points, one more than St. Louis.

The Avs, who managed an NHL-worst 48 points last season, will travel to defending Western Conference champion Nashville for the first round of the playoffs.

Associated Press