For far too long the Pittsburgh Penguins have thwarted nearly every second-round attempt by the Washington Capitals to chinch an Eastern Conference Final entrance. Each of the Penguins’ last three Stanley Cup Championships have seen them defeat the Capitals along the way.
That would change on Monday evening; the Washington Capitals would face a 3-2 series lead against their long-time rivals in Pittsburgh, this game had evaded NHL veterans for the Capitals such as Captain Alexander Ovechkin, and Nicklas Backstrom, but that would finally change as Washington would taste victory from a breakaway goal by Kuznetsov at 5:27 of the first overtime.
Goals in the second period by Washington’s Chiasson, and Pittsburgh’s Letang would push the teams to a tie-breaker that could only be solved by a classic period of Stanley Cup Playoff Overtime! Capitals’ Brayden Holtby would make 20 saves in the victory, and Penguins’ Matt Murray would make 28 saves in the loss.
This victory would provide the Washington Capitals with a 4-2 series win, and would be the first time that Ovechkin, Backstrom, Holtby, and many other Capital players would make their way into the third round of the playoffs. They will face the Tampa Bay Lightning, whom are coming off a 4-1 series victory over the Boston Bruins.
It is exciting the see ‘The Great Eight‘ make his first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, and, perhaps a Stanley Cup Final appearance may also be in store.
