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.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT