Ovechkin does everything but can't deliver on prediction of Game 7 Caps win

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Alexander Ovechkin did everything but deliver on his predication of a Game 7 win by the Washington Capitals.

The NHL's leading goal scorer tallied early to give the Capitals the lead, launched six shots at Henrik Lundqvist, played almost 22 minutes and was Washington's biggest threat Wednesday night.

It wasn't enough to prevent the Capitals from squandering a 3-1 series lead for the fifth time in franchise history, losing the final game 2-1 on Derek Stepan's overtime goa.

What made this one even tougher was that the Capitals were up 1-0 in Game 5 and on the verge of wrapping up the series when Chris Kreider scored with 1:41 to play in regulation and Ryan McDonagh won it in overtime.

Goaltender Braden Holtby didn't know how long it would take the Capitals to get over the loss.

"It's tough to say," said Holtby, who was spectacular in the series. "(We) left it all out there. I don't think there was one guy who wasn't committed. That's life sometimes. We keep growing like we did this year we're going to do special things in the future. "