Ovechkin sees Game 6 for Capitals against Lightning as biggest of career

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin believes Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final at Capital One Arena on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN1, TVAS) between his Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning is the most important game of his NHL career.
The Capitals trail 3-2 in the best-of-7 series and will be eliminated with a loss.

"It's two steps and you're in the Stanley Cup Final," Ovechkin said Monday. "We just have to play our best. We can't lose. They have the advantage right now, but we have to win the game and go back and play Game 7 in Tampa."
Game 7 would be at Amalie Arena on Wednesday.
RELATED: [Complete Lightning vs. Capitals series coverage]
It took Ovechkin 13 NHL seasons to reach a conference final and the Capitals captain doesn't want to waste this opportunity. He's not the only one.
Center Lars Eller (Montreal Canadiens, 2014) and defensemen Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh Penguins, 2008, 2009, 2013) and Matt Niskanen (Dallas Stars, 2008; Penguins, 2013) were the only Capitals previously to play in a conference final.
"We've never been this far in the playoffs," forward T.J. Oshie said. "So yeah, tonight is the most important game and we've got the maturity and excitement in here to embrace that feeling and have some fun with it."

The Capitals won the first two games of the series in Tampa, but have lost three in a row since then.
Ovechkin, 32, has six points (three goals, three assists) in the series. He's tied with Eller for second on Washington, behind Evgeny Kuznetsov's eight points.
Ovechkin scored a 6-on-5 goal with 1:36 remaining in the third period of a 3-2 loss in Game 5 on Saturday after being held without a shot on goal until there was 3:38 left in the third. He finished with three shots on goal, seven attempts (three blocked) and a game-high six hits.
After the Capitals gave up a goal 19 seconds into the first period and fell behind 3-0 in Game 5, they know they need a better start in Game 6.
"I think we didn't get the result the last game because of that," Ovechkin said. "I [wouldn't] say we was not sharp, but I think maybe you have to try to score first and let them open up. … We'll see what's going to happen tonight, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be a different game."
The road team won each of the first four games of the series before Tampa Bay won at home in Game 5. The Capitals are 3-5 at home during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Unless they win there Monday, their season will end.
"Well, tonight's is the night," Ovechkin said.