WASHINGTON, D.C. – For a few days, at least, the familiar script of disappointment and failure has been rolled up and stuffed into a side drawer for the Washington Capitals.
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The Capitals left the ice Wednesday in Pittsburgh after an overtime loss staring at one thing they must confront and one they must ignore: a 3-1 deficit to the Penguins in their second-round playoff series and their history of spring failures, respectively.
The Capitals got on the board first with a power play goal from star Alex Ovechkin, who scored less than 10 seconds into the man advantage after a hooking call on Bryan Rust.
Murray entered Game 5 on Saturday with a 1.81 goals-against average and.944 save percentage across seven postseason games. “We haven’t really experienced true adversity so far this year a do-or-die situation, which it was (Saturday night)”.
The Penguins’ powerplay got its own chance to even things up just after that. And we just learned that we’re really, really tight. Cullen is no passenger in this pursuit of the Stanley Cup, he’s one of the depth players that make the Penguins such a unsafe opponent. The Capitals will have to play their most complete game of the season facing a win or go home scenario.
Oshie and Williams were both brought in to the Capitals during the offseason to improve the team offensively and in the locker room.
“Now, if we get goaltending like that the rest of the series, it’s going to be interesting”, coach Barry Trotz said.
Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie each had a goal and assist for the Capitals, while Justin Williams added an insurance marker midway through the second period.
Game 5 is Saturday in Dallas.
Patric Hornqvist was the hero for Pittsburgh in Game 4, notching the game-winner 2:34 into the extra frame. Matt Cullen, who at 39 has openly wondered if he wants to return in the fall, slipped behind the Washington defense to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead.
Williams’ goal gave Washington its first two-goal lead of the series. They’re not out there making plays and scoring goals and making saves. Game six is due for an 8:00 pm EST start back in Pittsburgh.
After winning the first game of the series, the Capitals suffered three consecutive defeats, leaving their post-season hanging by a thread.
Letang, of course, was serving a one-game suspension for his illegal hit on the Caps’ Marcus Johansson in Game 3, while the Penguins were also without Olli Maatta, still suffering the effects of the headshot he absorbed from Brooks Orpik in Game 2.
Braden Holtby turned back 30 shots and blanked the Penguins after Chris Kunitz tied the score midway through the 1st period.
Closing out a series against the League’s best team throughout the regular season is a tough task, especially when they’re at home.
The power play did click after entering the game just 1-for-12 and provided the game victor by Oshie.
“Coming to the rink, I said to our coaches, ‘We’re winning today, there’s no question, ‘ ” Trotz said. “The guys responded well”. We’re stepping up [for] each other and believing in each other. Right now, everything’s come a little harder for us.
They were sitting a point out of the playoffs; no one thought the Penguins could contend with Johnston running the show. “It’s just got to go in”.
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Former Caps winger Mike Knuble, for one, doesn’t put much stock in the notion that the past gets into the heads of current players. With only Murray in front of him, Williams shot in the high slot, the puck dribbling through Murray’s legs and into the net, an uncharacteristic poor play by the rookie netminder. If you win one, then things can change.
