Nicklas Backstrom skated ahead on the breakaway. He dished a beauty of a dime to Alex Ovechkin, who made an even better effort beating Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray to give the Washington Capitals a 4-3 lead with just over one minute to play. Washington held on to win Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead.
Ovechkin’s initial swipe sent the puck off the goal post, as Murray sprawled to scramble for the puck, Ovechkin slapped the rebound in the net for the go-ahead goal.
Ovechkin’s goal is his eighth of the postseason. It also helped cap a two-goal rally by the Capitals, who trailed 3-2 in the third period.
The game had it all, as the Penguins shift momentum with back-to-back goals with three in total in the second period. The first by Jake Guentzel and the second coming just two minutes later from Patric Hornqvist on a power play after a Brooks Orpik two-minute hooking penalty. However, the Capitals kept pushing. They tied the game at 2-2 on a Chandler Stephenson’s goal.
A great deke and feed by Guentzel set up a one-timer by Crosby to give Pittsburgh back the lead at 3-2.
Sidney Crosby is good at hockey.
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Matt Niskanen tied the game at 3-3 at the 5:06 mark of the third period, blasting the puck from the circle off Murray’s pad through the net. He also had a clutch save, swiping the puck from the goal line that had got past Braden Holtby.
Matt Niskanen ties the game at 2 as he beats the glove of Murray!
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The momentum shifted from the point on Niskanen’s goal. And unlike in Game 1 but much like Game 2, the Capitals seized the third period. They out-shot the Penguins 10-3 in the decisive frame. Washington’s defense forced the pace much like the waning moments that led to Ovechkin’s goal.
Backstrom blocked a shot from Olli Maata. Then Michal Kempny delivered a check on Sidney Crosby before the defense forced a giveway by Maata. Backstrom gathered the puck and charged to the net and the rest was history.
Washington has showed great resolve throughout the postseason. After dropping the first two games at home in their first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Capitals won four straight to win the series 4-2.
The Capitals should be taking a 3-0 series lead into Thursday night’s game. However, a three-goal barrage by the Penguins late in the third of Game 1 in D.C. allowed them to sneak out with a 3-2 win. But, this seems to be a different team in Washington this year. They dominated Game 2 with a 4-1 win and rallied in the third to pull out Game 3.
They have battled through adversity that would have doomed them in the past. And did so on the back on their captain Ovechkin. His attitude seems to be win at all cost. He now has three goals and two assists in the series, and a game-winner in a pivotal game of the series.
