Ovechkin: 'I have to lead the way'

Despite only one goal in the first two games of his first-round playoff series, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is finding plenty of ways to leave his mark against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Ovechkin has been a wrecking ball, totaling 11 hits through the two games, with his biggest collision knocking Flyers forward Sean Couturier out of the series.

With high aspirations of a deep playoff run, Ovechkin hasn't found his way to the score sheet as often as usual, but he's doing what it takes to win a series, something he knows falls on his shoulders as team captain.

"I think it's a time when you have to not just score goals and do some offensive stuff, but you have to set the tone in different ways," Ovechkin told Chuck Gormley of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "Physical game, smart play in the neutral zone, defensive zone, it doesn't matter which area."

"It's part of my game and I have to lead the way in that category and the boys are going to follow me."

Washington looks to gain a 3-0 stranglehold over the Flyers on Monday night.