Capitals Beat Penguins 4-2, Force Game 6

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Jon Sorensen

Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 Saturday night at Verizon Center, forcing a Game 6 Monday in Pittsburgh.

Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Capitals. Marc-Andre Fleury got the start for the Penguins.

The Capitals went with 7 defensemen, with Karl Alzner playing in his third consecutive game after returning from an “Upper Body Injury”.

Paul Carey, Brett Connolly, and Taylor Chorney were the healthy scratches. Chandler Stephenson was reassigned to Hershey earlier in the day.

QUICK HITS:

  • Andre Burakovsky started on the top line with Backstrom and Oshie, and Alex Ovechkin started in Burakovsky’s spot on the third line.
  • Nicklas Backstrom scored a goal, marking his third goal of the series and fifth of the postseason.
  • The Capitals would score two goals in 27 seconds in the third period to storm back into the series.
  • Alex Ovechkin scored a goal, marking his fifth point (2g, 3a) of the series and eighth point of the postseason (5g, 3a)

FIRST PERIOD:
The Capitals would gain control of the game, dominating offensive zone time early, but it would be the Penguins who would strike first. Carl Hagelin would bounce one in off the post at 10:24 of the opening frame.

Andre Burakovsky would tie the game with a sweet toe drag and shot from the slot at 19:30 of the opening frame. Burakovsky’s goal came as part of his typical third line, with Lars Eller and Tom Wilson.

The period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Capitals outshot the Penguins 12-7 for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD:
The Penguins would regain the lead on a power play goal by Phil Kessel at 4:20 of the middle frame.

The period would end with the Penguins leading 2-1. The Capitals outshot the Penguins 6-3 for the middle frame and led 18-10 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD:
Nicklas Backstrom would tie the game with a filthy wrister from the left dot at 2:49 of the final frame.

Evgeny Kuznetsov would give the Capitals their first lead at home in the series with a snipe from the left side at 7:20 of the final frame.

Alex Ovechkin would make it 4-2 at 7:47 of the third period with an “old school” Ovi drive and snipe.

The Capitals would hang on for the 4-2 win.

Game recap by the Capitals:

 

By Jon Sorensen

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER:

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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