Alex Ovechkin, whose playoff beard is starting to make him resemble a Russian Jesus, had an opinion he wanted to share after the Capitals morning skate.

“Tonight is the night” the Caps are going to win their first home game of the Eastern Conference Final, Ovechkin said. It’s the second guarantee Ovechkin has made in the 2018 postseason. The Capitals are 7-2 on the road and just 3-5 at home.

The Capitals won Games One and Two on the road to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final, but have since lost three straight games to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Monday night, they face elimination for the first time in this year’s playoff run.

“It’s two steps and you’re in the Stanley Cup Final,” Ovechkin said. “You just have to play your best. We can’t lose. They have advantage right now, but we have to win and go back to play a Game Seven in Tampa.”

Here’s Ovi’s full comments after the morning skate.

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"Tonight is the night" @Ovi8 #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/oVAJtADmj9

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 21, 2018

Feel any different this morning?

Alex Ovechkin: “Not different, but we understand we can’t lose. That’s the whole thing.”

Is this the important game of your career?

Alex Ovechkin: “Um, yeah probably. It’s two steps and you’re in the Stanley Cup Final. You just have to play your best. We can’t lose. They have advantage right now, but we have to win and go back to play a Game Seven in Tampa.”

Do you guys have any frustration after playing so well earlier in the series?

Alex Ovechkin: “We don’t look back. We just look forward.”

How important is it for you guys to have a great start tonight?

Alex Ovechkin: “Very important. I think we didn’t get result in last game because of that I think. I don’t say like we was not sharp, but I think we have to score first and let them open up some plays. We’ll see what gonna happen tonight, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a different game.”

You haven’t won at home in this series yet.

Alex Ovechkin: “Tonight is the night.”

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Headline photo: @Capitals