Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins faces off against Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 8, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
T.J. Oshie, Capitals - Oshie now has four goals and set a playoff career high with 12 points, one behind Backstrom for the team lead.
Yeah, Game 6 was 60 one-sided minutes of hockey and the local heroes lost to the Capitals by the deceptively close score of 5-2, which sends the teams back to Washington for a seventh and deciding game.
After a year off from the rigors of a decisive Game 7, the Capitals are ready to strap themselves into the one-game, winner-take-all rollercoaster once again.
Only five Penguins players from that game remain with the team; Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Chris Kunitz and the injured Kris Letang.
Crosby finished Monday's game with 19:57 of ice time, most among Penguins forwards. Forget, for a moment, the theme that colors this whole series and these two franchises: the fact that Crosby's Penguins have won two Stanley Cups while Ovechkin's Capitals have won none. They had a one-goal lead and 20 minutes standing between them and another Eastern Conference Finals appearance. And here, against the defending Stanley Cup champions, they responded with all the qualities their predecessors have so frequently ceded to opponents - poise and patience, savvy, a self-assuredness that, frankly, was somewhat unsettling given the name across the front of their sweaters.
"As far as being checked by a doctor, yes, absolutely - any guy that goes into the boards like that, the first thing is trainer and then doctor's [evaluation]", Crosby said. It's a chapter in the legacy of the two most important players of their generation, Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin. After Washington came back to win Game 5 Saturday night, Trotz talked about having "fun" going to Pittsburgh down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Concussed on May 1, Sidney Crosby returned five days later and didnt look at his best Monday after crashing headfirst into the boards.
Arsene Wenger not giving up on top-four finish
But that is a good opportunity to show your character - to show how you come back and how you recover. Arsenal moved above Manchester United into fifth on 66 points.
Crosby stayed in the game but his frustration was plain.
One problem. The Capitals didn't actually make the playoffs that spring, finishing last in the Patrick Division instead. By then the Capitals already had a 1-0 lead on Oshie's shot from the right circle on the power play.
It wasn't unlike most of the first four games of the series, when Washington would control play for long stretches only to have Pittsburgh expertly counter on its way to a 3-1 advantage.
This is the 10th time the Penguins and Capitals have hooked up in the playoffs, with the Penguins winning eight of the previous nine series. Even if he's an MVP-caliber player with a history of concussions. It feels all too familiar; finding ways to win early and then like a flipped switch, nothing works and the Penguins can't buy a goal or event a shot on goal.
Nicklas Backstrom, who'd assisted on Oshie's goal in the first period, extended the Caps' lead to 3-0 just 16 seconds into the third period, beating Fleury with a flawless wrist shot.
Game 7 may be the most exciting phrase in sports to a lot of people.
Goalie Pekka Rinne made 23 saves and had an assist. Crosby scored twice and had an assist, while Ovechkin scored as well.
Nashville will play either Anaheim or Edmonton. The Pens have a 5-0 road record in Game 7s. The second line had two of those three players with positive differentials, which makes sense because that line scored the Penguins only two goals. For them to force Game 7 on Wednesday, they'll need Holtby and the rest of the stars to continue to be the best players on the ice.
Comments