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The Washington Capitals climbed back into the Eastern Conference Semifinals series with a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night at Verizon Center, forcing a game 6 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The Penguins lead the series 3-2.
The starting lines for the Caps in game 5:
Offensive lines:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Johansson-Backstrom-Burakovsky
Chimera-Beagle-Williams
Winnik-Richards-Wilson
Defensive pairs:
Alzner-Niskanen
Orlov-Carlson
Schmidt-Chorney
Brooks Orpik served the third of his three-game suspension for his hit on Olli Matta in game 2. Stan Galiev, Michael Latta and Mike Weber were the healthy scratches. The goalie match-up for game 5, provided by @washcaps:
QUICK TAKES
The Capitals were fast out of the gates on this Kentucky Derby Saturday, notching an Ovechkin power play goal at 4:04 of the first, but the Pens would answer with a power play goal of their own just three minutes later. This was the Pens first power play goal of the series. The Capitals got only 4 of 21 attempted shots on net in 1st period. 10 misses. (Ovechkin with 2 shots, Burakovsky with 2 shots). The Caps would step up pressure early in the second period to notch another power play goal, this time by T.J. Oshie, and converted on a Pens defensive zone turnover with a goal by Justin Williams to take a 3-1 lead to the locker room at the second intermission. The Caps would lock it down in the third period, behind strong play by Braden Holtby, sending the series to a game 6 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The Caps were out-shot 31-19 for the game.
The Capitals would strike first on a power play goal by Alex Ovechkin at 4:04 of the first period.
The Ovechkin one-timer is just absurd. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/D8yIERSjxv
— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) May 7, 2016
The Penguins would tie the game on a power play goal of their own by Chris Kunitz at 7:08 of the first period. This was the Pens first power play goal of the series.
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The first period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Penguins led in shots on goal 12-4.
The Capitals would regain the lead on a power play goal by T.J. Oshie at 4:00 of the second period.
Oshie scores the 2nd, Williams just buried the 3rd. Washington is fired up. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/sOfje8VO9G
— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) May 8, 2016
Justin Williams would stretch the Caps lead to 3-1 0n a nifty wrister at 9:58 of the second period.
Pick up that turnover and Capitalize. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/QW0973hdXV
— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) May 8, 2016
The period would end with the Caps leading 3-1. Shots on goal were 22-12 in favor of the Pens.
The Capitals would lock it down for the third period, aided by additional excellent play by Braden Holtby. The Capitals held on for the 3-1 win, forcing a game 6 Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
Let’s go Caps, red blue and white all the way
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