Everybody in Washington is happy about forward Justin Williams playoff success this year. The 35-year-old veteran has come up big in the series with Toronto, including two goals in Game 1 of the series and then Game 5’s overtime winner Friday. He now has two overtime playoff goals to his credit and since 2010-11, Williams is fourth behind Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith with his 24 points in playoff games 5-7, according to Sports Illustrated’s Alex Prewitt.
Williams’ success, however, may increase the veteran forward’s price tag as he enters unrestricted free agency this offseason. Williams currently makes $3.25MM, but despite his age, could demand even more next season. He is coming off another solid year in which he scored 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points, which mirrors last year when he scored 22 goals and 30 assists. The Capitals may have no choice but to pay up to retain the clutch winger.
- Isabelle Khurshudyan writes that a lot of Game 5’s credit goes to Capitals’ fourth-line center Jay Beagle, who was brought in during overtime to take a critical faceoff. Coach Barry Trotz replaced Beagle for Williams and moved Evgeny Kuznetsov to the wing. The right-handed Beagle gave the Caps the advantage for the face-off and after winning, Beagle returned to the bench to allow Williams on the ice. “It’s a big draw because I don’t want to get scored on,” said Beagle, who finished the season with 13 goals and 17 assists. The play helped set up Williams’ overtime goal. The Capitals have fared better in the last three games with faceoffs, including winning 55 percent of the draws in Game 5 after winning less than 40 percent in the first two games of the series.
- Boston’s OT game today marks the 17th overtime in the Stanley Cup’s first round of the playoffs this year. That ties the most in history from 2013. The Capitals have contributed with four overtime games so far in this series.