As they prepare for Game 5 Saturday night, the Capitals know that one more loss will deny them a chance to play for the Stanley Cup once again.
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Last year, the Capitals held a 3-1 series lead in the second round against the New York Rangers and lost that series in overtime in Game 7.
The power play goal was the first by the Penguins during this playoff series against the Capitals. “And I think that we learned that we can handle it”, said Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner. With right winger Bryan Rust off for hooking, Ovechkin needed just eight seconds of advantage time to deliver a rocket over Murray’s shoulder and give the Capitals a 1-0 advantage.
Ovechkin looked like a man determined not to let the Capitals go quietly into the offseason.
“I think he’s been great every game he’s ever played in this uniform”, Lovejoy said. “The guys responded well”.
In San Jose, Joe Pavelski scored two goals and the Sharks used some reconfigured lines to bounce back from the tough loss and beat Nashville 5-1 for a 3-2 series lead. The Penguins pulled Matt Murray and for the final three minutes the Penguins had the puck in the zone applying pressure but due to some excellent defensive play, the Capitals did not allow a single shot on the 5 on 6. “We had to carry that”. “We haven’t really experienced true adversity so far this year – a do-or-die situation, which it was (Saturday night)”.
Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture also scored as part of San Jose’s new second line and the Sharks moved within one win of advancing to the Western Conference final for the fourth time in franchise history.
Nashville and San Jose will be back on the ice for Game 5 about 44 hours after their triple-overtime thriller ended just after 2 a.m. EDT Friday. 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…
Elliott turned away a strong push from the Stars in the final period, rookie playoff points leader Robby Fabbri had a goal and assist, and the Blues beat the Stars 4-1 on Saturday for a 3-2 series lead.
They were fortunate to have a 3-1 series lead after the Capitals won the first game in overtime and the next three games were so tight, all going the Penguins’ way by one goal. Coach Mike Sullivan fanned those flames on Sunday, saying only that Murray “gives us a chance to win” and declining to clear up any confusion about who would be in net for the Penguins in Game 6 on Tuesday.
St. Louis leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.
The Caps were powered by goals from Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, and Justin Williams.
On the power play, Ovechkin was able to take his signature one timer that was left for a rebound that TJ Oshie was able to tap home past Matt Murray.
The game was stopped early in the third period because of blood on the ice in front of the Dallas bench, and yet there wasn’t a penalty until a few seconds after that when St. Louis’s David Backes was sent off for holding.
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The Caps have dropped three straight after winning the series opener in OT and are hoping to stave off yet another early, and disappointing, elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Murray had arguably done that for the Penguins when he made 47 saves in Game 3.
