Games 2, 3, and 4 have all been won by the Penguins, with the most recent pair of victories taking place in Pittsburgh.
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In the first round of the 2014 playoffs, Williams and the Los Angeles Kings came back from a 3-0 deficit against the San Jose Sharks and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
S harks 5, Predators 1: SAN JOSE, Calif. – Joe Pavelski scored two goals, and San Jose bounced back from a triple-overtime loss to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round playoff series. Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is congratulated by teammate John Carlson (74) and others as they celebrate Ovechkin’s goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of Game 5 in an National Hockey League.
After winning the first game of the series, the Capitals suffered three consecutive defeats, leaving their post-season hanging by a thread.
“He’s our leader. We look up to him”, Oshie said. “If we can do more of the same, I think we’ll be on the right side of things after Game 6”.
The Sharks had been undefeated in three road playoff games in their opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, but they couldn’t cash in on the numerous opportunities they had throughout the three overtime periods in Game 4.
“I think he’s been great every game he’s ever played in this uniform”, Lovejoy said.
Oshie scored his second victor of the series, but it was Williams who emerged as the public conscience of the Capitals after they fell behind 3-1 in the series after an overtime loss in Game 4 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh pulled even later in the period thanks to their special teams, taking advantage of a Nicklas Backstrom interference penalty to score its first power-play goal in 15 tries. Stastny’s shot was deflected to Brouwer, who nearly missed the puck but got enough to send it into an open net.
The Stars are 1-2 in overtime in the playoffs and the Blues are 2-2.
Home ice should also be a compelling factor for the Sharks.
Troy Brouwer also scored for the Blues, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.
Boudreau, 61, was sacked by Anaheim two days after the four-time Pacific Division champions’ first-round exit from the playoffs.
Game 5 is tonight in San Jose.
Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins are the finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. His 46 goals, 60 assists and 106 points are career highs.
“We believe if we stay focused, if we believe in what we’re doing in a seven-game series, it’s going to change in our favor”, Holtby told NHL.com correspondent Katie Brown. He had a 2.20 GAA and.922 save percentage. If the Capitals capitulated in five games, it would go down as one of the franchise’s biggest playoff disappointments in recent memory.
– Canada 5, USA 1: At St. Petersburg, Russia, Canada pounded the United States in their opening game of the world ice hockey championship on Friday.
Getting production from sources other than Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie and John Carlson, who have accounted for 12 of the Capitals’ 23 postseason goals, would help as well. Brendan Gallagher’s wrist shot put Canada in front at the end of the first.
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Boone Jenner made it 4-1 in the third, beating Keith Kincaid from a tight angle, and Matt Marchand scored the fifth on a breakaway with Canada short-handed.
