Burns-Ovechkin battle in Hurricanes-Capitals series an old-time physical duel
Jaccob Slavin broke into a smile Sunday when the “game within the game” was mentioned: Brent Burns vs. Alexander Ovechkin.
Burns is 40 years old and Ovechkin 39, but there they were on the ice Saturday, the two veterans jostling for position, looking to hit, accepting hits, each trying to get an edge. The Carolina Hurricanes took a 4-0 victory over the Washington Capitals for a 2-1 lead in their Stanley Cup playoff series, but the Burns-Ovechkin confrontation was a highlight.
“It’s a battle,” Slavin said. “I’m typically on the ice (with Burns) and don’t see too much of it, but you hear the crowd kind of love it.”
Slavin and Burns have often been the Canes’ defensive pair sent out when the Caps’ Ovechkin takes his shifts. Now the NHL’s career goal-scoring leader, Ovechkin remains a game-changer and potential game-breaker — he scored 44 goals in the regular season and four in the Caps’ five-game series win over the Montreal Canadiens to start the playoffs.
Ovechkin has had eight shots in the three games against Carolina and four came Saturday in Game 3. He had three in the opening period, only to be denied each time by goalie Frederik Andersen, who was sharp for all 60 minutes in earning his fourth career playoff shutout.
Ovechkin also was bounced around a bit by Burns.
Consider that Ovechkin is 6-foot-3 and about 240 pounds, and Burns 6-5 and 230. They’re two big men and when they collide, it has an impact.
Burns initiated a lot of contact Saturday with Ovechkin, especially along the boards, more than enough to keep the partisan crowd engaged and loud and enjoying it.
“With both of those guys it’s incredible that they can still play the game at such a high pace and be as effective as they are,” Slavin said.
The two should see more of each other Monday in Game 4 at Lenovo Center. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour, able to make the last change at home, can slip the Burns-Slavin defensive tandem onto the ice against Ovechkin’s line.
“It’s not just the D corps,” Slavin said. “I think it’s the forward group, as well, back-pressuring really hard. I think it’s just time and space. I know it’s a cliche to say, but with a guy of that caliber and the shot that he has, you have to take it away.
“You always have to be aware when he’s on the ice. With any top player in the league you have to be aware of it or you’ll get caught staring and watching. When someone like that is on the ice, he has the potential to score from anywhere. He’s lethal and you have to be aware of it.”
The Canes got a boost Saturday from its power play, with Jack Roslovic and Jackson Blake picking up goals. Andrei Svechnikov scored the game’s first goal and Eric Robinson snipe early in the third period made it a 3-0 game.
One trend that has been constant the first three games has been scoreless first periods. Neither team has been able to jump out to an early lead and make the other team chase.
Just 30 seconds into Game 3, Caps forward Tom Wilson carried the puck in from the right wing, forcing goalie Frederik Andersen into a tough save.
Had Wilson scored, the complexion of the game could have changed. Could have, but didn’t.
The Caps had eight high-danger scoring chances to the Canes’ two in the opening period Saturday, according to naturalstattrick.com, a hockey analytics site.
“For us, it’s about getting to our game right way, not tip-toeing into the game, not almost waiting around to see what kind of game it’s going to be like,” Slavin said. “It’s just taking control right from the start, kind of like the start we have in Game 1, when we were in and on them.”
The Canes had an 11-2 edge in high-danger chances in the opening period of Game 1, but did not score until the third period and eventually won 2-1 in overtime on a Slavin goal.
The Caps flipped the script Saturday in the first as Wilson had the early look, was open in the lot and later Ovechkin had good shots against Andersen. But, again, the opening period was scoreless..
“We know how the game is going to go. For us, we need to get to it,” Brind’Amour said Sunday. “At some point, why not try to get to it right away? I know the other team is doing the same thing, so they got to it first, obviously.
“I thought we were able to kind of figure our way and get to it in the second half of the game. It’s not going to be pretty all of the time.”
This story was originally published May 12, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
