Why Concussion Spotters Couldn't Pull Sidney Crosby From Game 6 Vs. Capitals

The Washington Capitals have spent the last two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins crawling out from a 3-1 deficit.

They do, and after all the great work they've done to force a Game 7, the Caps must now win one more game to ensure the last two wins weren't all for naught. The series is even for the first time since it started, and it's up to the Penguins to respond. He also wasn't the issue in the other contest Pittsburgh dropped, Game 3, when he turned aside 30 of the 33 shots he faced in an overtime loss.

Which brings us back to Fleury.

Game 7 is Wednesday night at Anaheim, with the victor advancing to face the Nashville Predators in the conference finals. And like they did in Game 5, the Caps poured it on.

He did not come out of Game 6 on Monday night.

"I think we were probably guilty of making a few mistakes early on and then probably chasing our mistakes after that", said Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, who had an assist in 20 minutes but was largely a nonfactor in his second game back after missing Game 4 with a concussion. A win would help them get rid of the huge gorilla on their back.

"We had a lot of chances that I think we let slip through our fingers", Rangers center Derek Stepan said, "but it's a good team over there".

For these playoffs, the Capitals have gotten crucial players to step up at the right time. Ovechkin, who went without a point in Game 6, had three shots and three hits.

Co-founder and CEO of the Waltham, Mass. -based Concussion Legacy Foundation Chris Nowinski told USA TODAY that the NHL's rule is "a poorly written policy that should be amended before the puck is dropped in another National Hockey League game". FILE - This April 28, 2010 file photo shows Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak, of Slovakia, celebrating the team's 2-1 win as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russian Federation, skates off after Game 7 of the.

"Since about Game 3, we've had a calmness about what we are doing", Trotz said. The Penguins goalie, who had been outstanding in the playoffs, has allowed nine goals in the last two games.

The Alex Ovechkin-led Capitals have been business-like, gritty and determined since falling behind 2-0 in the series.

The Capitals hope to change that Wednesday night when they host the Penguins in the seventh and deciding game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Stone scored with 5:16 left in the first when he got a pass from MacArthur on the left side as he crossed the blue line, skated up and fired a shot past Lundqvist for his fourth of postseason.

Anyway, that's not what's coming up between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, not exactly. "The protocol says that if it's not one of the above scenarios", removal from play is not mandatory and the club's medical staff shall exercise their medical judgement", whether to remove a player for evaluation. Another Presidents' Trophy regular season, another second-round exit.

The Washington Capitals are well aware of their franchise's inglorious past, one filled with unmet expectations and gut-wrenching collapses. It is a little concerning with Washington now having all the momentum and teams loosing 3-1 series seems like every year.

Washington's early pressure was rewarded when Burakovsky doubled the lead at 6:36 of the second after forcing a turnover by Ron Hainsey.

"These are the games that you live to play in", Sullivan said.

There were just three players with a positive Corsi differential, according to http://naturalstattrick.com.