HockeyOvechkin 100 per cent healthy

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Alex Ovechkin, seen in this file photo, didn't have his usual jump in Game 1, but he says he's just fine. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

When Alexander Ovechkin was smothered and silenced by the Montreal Canadiens in the opening-round series on Thursday, speculation began that the Washington Capitals superstar was playing hurt.

Not so revealed Ovechkin after practice on Friday. "I'm good," he declared.

The high-flying Russian failed to put a shot on Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak in the series opener, a 3-2 overtime victory for the Habs. It was only the second time all season that Ovechkin did not record a shot on goal in a game.

"It's something new for me," Ovechkin said. "Again, it's a game and I had opportunities to shoot the puck and didn't shoot. I tried to create some moments, but I think it would be better if I played simpler to try to get some results."

Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau was not afraid to remark post-game that Ovechkin struggled in the opening contest. The coach's words has Ovechkin burning to be a factor in Game 2 at the Verizon Center on Tuesday.

"Yeah, when coach says those kinds of things you have to change something," Ovechkin said. "I'm going to change and most of the guys are going to change because I think lots of guys didn't play their game last night."

Ovechkin led all Washington forwards in ice time at 18 minutes and 47 seconds. He was on the ice when linemates Mike Knuble and Nicklas Backstrom combined for the Capitals go-ahead goal early in the third period.

But he also got caught when he missed a body check on Montreal's Scott Gomez in the neutral zone. This took Ovechkin out of the play and Gomez wound up rushing up ice to tap in a pinpoint pass from his linemate Brian Gionta for the tying goal.

"Yeah, I tried to hit [Gomez] but he had a small space between me and Backy and he just got away," Ovechkin said. "If I hit him it probably wouldn't have been a goal. I just have to find a better angle.

"In playoffs everybody wants to keep the best guys on the team down, but it was my fault. I didn't play my game and our line didn't play well."

Montreal defenceman Jaroslav Spacek, who did an outstanding job marking Ovechkin, had an interesting theory. He felt his team was more prepared for the intensified competition than their opponents because the Canadiens have played playoff-type hockey since the Olympic break just to get in the postseason.

But that doesn't explain why the Capitals dominated in the opening 20 minutes, out-shooting their opponents 19-7. But the Canadiens managed to escape with a 1-1 tie thanks to the outstanding work of goalie Jaroslav Halak. He was playing in his first game against the Capitals this season.

"We didn't know what to expect from him," Washington defenceman Mike Green said. "We hadn't played against him we didn't know his habits and we didn't expect him to come out and play that well."

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