Capitals Beat Penguins 6-3; Take 3-2 Series Lead

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 Saturday night at Capital One Arena. The win gives the Capitals a 3-2 series lead. After the Penguins opened the scoring just 2:33 into the contest, the Capitals would answer with goals from John Carlson and Brett Connolly to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The Penguins would tie it early in the middle frame and take a 3-2 lead midway through the middle frame with a pair of power play goals and take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. Evgeny Kuznetsov would tie the game just 52 seconds into the final frame, and Jakub Vrana would score the late go-ahead game-winner for the 4-3 lead. The Caps would add two empty net goals for the 6-3 win. The two teams return to battle for Game 6 Monday night in Pittsburgh.

STARTERS
Braden Holtby (6-3, 2.07 GAA, .924 sv%) started between the pipes for the Capitals. Matt Murray (6-4, 2.33 GAA, .909 sv%) started in goal for the Penguins. The Capitals starting forward lines and defensive pairs for Game 5:

Forward lines:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Smith-Pelly
Stephenson-Backstrom-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-Vrana
Gersich-Beagle-Chiasson
Defensive pairs:
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos

Scratches: Tom Wilson (suspension), Travis Boyd, Nathan Walker, Madison Bowey, Jakub Jerebek and Andre Burakovsky (upper body injury).

FIRST PERIOD
The Penguins would strike first with a goal from Jamie Oleksiak just 2:33 into the game. This was tghe Penguins first shot on goal of the game.

The Capitals would tie the game with a power play goal from John Carlson at 18:22 of the first period. Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie were credited with the helpers.

The Capitals would strike again just before the end of the period with a goal from Bret Connolly at 18:55 of the opening frame.

The first period would end with the Caps leading 2-1. Shots on goal were tied 13-13 through the first 20 minutes. Pittsburgh was 0 for 2 and Washington 1 for 2 on the man advantage.

SECOND PERIOD
The Penguins would tie the game with a power play goal from Sidney Crosby at 4:32 of the middle frame.

The Penguins would take the lead with a power play goal from Patric Hornqvist at 7:45 of the middle frame.

The period would end with the Penguins leading 3-2. The Penguins outshot the Capitals 18-5 for the middle frame. The Penguins were 2 for 5 and the Capitals 1 for 3 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals quickly tied the game with a breakaway goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov just 52 seconds into the final frame. The goal was setup with a nice breakout pass from Jakub Vrana.

The Capitals would take a 4-3 lead with a goal from Jakub Vrana at 15:22 of the final frame. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov were credited with the assists.

The Capitals would add an empty net goals from T.J. Oshie and Lars Eller to make it 6-3.

SHAVINGS

Braden Holtby stopped 36 of the 39 shots he faced (.923 save percentage), including 27 of the 28 shots at even strength. Holtby improved to 7-3 in the playoffs.
Jakub Vrana scored the game-winning goal and recorded two assists. That marked Vrana’s first career multi-point playoff game. Vrana entered the game with two career playoff points.
Braden Holtby stopped 36 of the 39 shots he faced (.923 save percentage), including 27 of the 28 shots at even strength. Holtby improved to 7-3 in the playoffs.
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the opening minute of a period (Game 1: 17 seconds into first period) for the second time this series. Additionally, Kuznetsov recorded two assists, his second-consecutive game with an assist. Kuznetsov also co-led the team with nine face-off wins.
T.J. Oshie recorded a goal and an assist and now has points in three-consecutive games (2g, 2a).
Lars Eller recorded a goal and an assist, his fourth assist of the playoffs and one shy of his mark set last season.
Alex Ovechkin recorded an assist, his sixth of the playoffs.
Matt Niskanen recorded an assist, his third of the playoffs.
Jay Beagle co-led the team with nine face-off wins.
Devante Smith-Pelly led the team with five hits.
Nicklas Backstrom left the game in the third period and did not return.
NHL box score is here.