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Ovechkin: It’s ‘nice’ that McDonagh, Girardi aren’t physical

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Rangers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2013 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 4-3. (May 5, 2013 - Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh played a big role in New York’s game-winning goal at 13:35 of the third period on Monday and he outplayed Alex Ovechkin in the process.

After the contest, McDonagh suggested that he was exploiting Ovechkin’s fatigue while Capitals coach Adam Oates suggested that it was actually his fault for not getting Ovechkin into a good enough rhythm.

Today, Ovechkin defended himself, saying that he felt normal, and then took a bit of a jab at McDonagh and his defensive partner, Dan Girardi.

“McDonagh is a good skater but they don’t play a physical game,” he told CSN Washington. “So that’s kind of nice to know that when you go to the corner they aren’t going to hit you because they play too much minutes out there and their energy level is going down. They block shots, they play safe and it’s a challenge.”

McDonagh has averaged 22:47 minutes per postseason game and ranks near the bottom of the team with four hits. Girardi has been credited with seven hits while logging a team-high 25:59 minutes per match.

Girardi and McDonagh have typically played against the Capitals’ top line and so far they’ve limited Ovechkin to a goal and an assist.

Game 4 will start at 7:30 p.m. ET and the Washington Capitals have a 2-1 series lead.

Related:

Oates doesn’t think Ovechkin was tired on Rangers’ winning goal