The Washington Capitals are one win away from finally getting over proverbial hump of the Pittsburgh Penguins and reaching their first Conference Finals since 1998.
1. Capitals Rally with Four-Goal Third Period
The Capitals used a four-goal explosion in the third period to rally to a 6-3 win over the Penguins in Game 5, and take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven second-round series. Entering the third trailing 3-2, Washington wasted no time tying the game up when Evgeny Kuznetsov slipped past the Penguins defense and beat Matt Murray five-hole 52 seconds into the period.
KUZY TIES IT AT 3! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/9sqJUP0KTy
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 6, 2018
Washington continued to be the aggressor and the faster team in the third. The Capitals turned a breakaway off a shot saved by Braden Holtby, finishing with a beautiful feed from Alex Ovechkin to Jakub Vrana, who slammed the puck in net for the go-ahead goal at the 15:22 mark.
JAKUB VRANA LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/CjB88XlpUB
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 6, 2018
Trailing by one goal, Pittsburgh had no choice but to pull the goalie. However, the Capitals’ aggression led to two quick empty-netters to bust the game wide open. The first from T.J. Oshie at the 18:29 mark and the second by Lars Eller with six seconds remaining. In all the Capitals scored three goals in the game’s final five minutes and now head to Pittsburgh for Monday’s Game 6 looking to cap the series.
2. Capitals Continue to Some Determination to Win
This season’s Capitals have leaned on determination. It has led them to this position. Their determination to win four straight against Columbus in the first-round after falling behind in the series 0-2. Their determination led to a huge win in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. On Saturday night they showed that same determination after falling behind 1-0 early in the first period.
John Carlson and Brett Connolly scored back-to-back goals in the first period just 33 seconds apart to turn a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead.
Even when the Penguins swung the momentum with a pair of goals in the second period just three minutes a part, Washington withstood a dominant second period by Pittsburgh in which they out-shot the Caps 18-5. Washington stayed the course and eventually re-gained control of the game in the third period. This Capitals team continues to avoid the folding of the past that has haunted the franchise.
3. Braden Holtby Saved the Capitals from Disaster
Braden Holtby gave up three goals, but that number could have easily been higher. He withstood a relentless third period that saw 18 shots on goal by the Penguins, allowing just two to get past him. He stood tall in net in the first two period stopping 28 of 31 shots threw the first two periods, including a tremendous glove save to stop a Carl Hagelin breakaway. In the third he was just as impressive, including his kick save that started the Washington breakaway that led to the go-ahead goal by Vrana. Holtby has been a brick wall in net when the Capitals needed him to be and as a result they seemingly remain in games even when momentum has shifted.
