Capitals vs. Penguins Game 6: Full highlights as Washington eliminates Pittsburgh

Washington Capital Evgeny Kuznetsov’s overtime goal ends the Pittsburgh Penguins’ quest for a third-straight Stanley Cup Championship.

Jakub Vrana’s goal late in the third period of Game 5 pushed Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins to the brink of elimination for the first time since Game 7 against Ottawa in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. If the Penguins were going to hoist the Stanley Cup for the third year in the row, they would have to win Game 6. Recent history indicates that Washington has a difficult time closing the book on Pittsburgh.

It was do-or-die for the defending two-time Stanley Cup champions. You know it’s a big game when Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers are in the building to support the city’s hockey team. Not one person in the PPG Paints Arena was sitting as they dropped the puck for Game 6.

The opening minutes of Game 6 resulted in Washington going on the power play. Olli Maatta went to the penalty box for a high stick. The Penguins breathed a sigh of relief when T.J. Oshie rang one off the post, after being left alone in the high slot. Pittsburgh was able to keep their composure and kill off the remainder of Maatta’s penalty.

Washington was able to return the favor when Michal Kempny was whistled for tripping Jake Guentzel. Like Matt Murray, Braden Holtby was up to the task. The Capitals’ penalty kill was able to keep the powerful Penguins’ powerplay off the scoreboard.

The first period expired with Washington leading in shots, 7-6. However, missed shots may of been the reason that Washington was unable to break the ice in the opening period. Alexander Ovechkin badly missed two shots that resulted in clearing the zone for the Penguins.

It didn’t take long for the Capitals to score in the second period. Nathan Walker took the puck and darted around the back of Pittsburgh’s net. With his head up, he was able to find Alex Chiasson, who found an opening between Matt Murray and the right post.

Washington was able to build on the momentum of scoring the game’s first goal. Game 5’s hero, Jakub Vrana had a break away, but Matt Murray was able to shut the door. The Penguins’ goaltender also had the answer for Washington’s odd man rush, after Oleksiak’s stick betrayed him.

Pittsburgh was able to weather Washington’s storm and turn the tide. Kris Letang wasn’t ready to go home. Sidney Crosby cleanly won a faceoff back to Brian Dumoulin. The Pittsburgh blue liner found his partner, Letang, who blasted the puck of a Capital player and past Holtby to tie the game.

There was a lot of head-scratching in the Capitals’ locker room during the second intermission. In the final minutes of the second period, Ovechkin found Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was wide open to the left of Matt Murray. A sprawling Murray left the whole top of the net vacant as he desperately attempted to make a save on a shot that never came. Instead of lifting the puck over the prone goaltender, he stickhandled himself right out of a scoring chance. It could of easily been 2-1, Washington heading to the third period.

The first ten minutes of the final period of regulation was very uneventful. It was apparent that both teams were waiting for their opponent to make the first mistake. It was beginning to feel like the next goal would win Game 6.

After the first half of the third period, the ice began to open up. Alex Chiasson was looking for his second goal of the night, but was stoned by Matt Murray. In return, Braden Holtby denied 2017 Stanley Cup Final hero, Patric Hornqvist on a tough angle shot.

There wasn’t many scoring chances for each team in the third period. Each team made sure they were extremely responsible in their own zone. 60 minutes of play wasn’t enough as Game 6 was headed for overtime.

Like all sports, hockey is a game of inches. Tom Kuhnhackl had the first big time scoring chance in overtime. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the right winger found iron instead of the back of the net.

Washington responded with an excellent chance to end the game and series. T.J. Oshie neatly knocked the puck down with his back turned to the pass. He entered the Pittsburgh zone and found a streaking John Carlson, who couldn’t get the puck past Murray. This wasn’t the only scoring opportunity Washington would get in overtime.

Alexander Ovechkin, who has historically come up short against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, found Evgeny Kuznetsov streaking towards the Pittsburgh net. Kuznetsov used his elite speed to avoid the Penguins’ defensemen. He went from backhand to forehand and slid the puck past Matt Murray to win the series and send his team to the next round.

Three Stars

1. Evgeny Kuznetsov: It’s plausible to assume that many fans of the Washington Capitals weren’t very happy with Kuznetsov after he wasted a prime scoring chance in the second period. All has been forgiven because Kuznetsov’s goal in overtime has vanquished their nemesis and propelled the Capitals into the Eastern Conference Finals.

2. Matt Murray: The Pittsburgh goaltender kept his squad in the game. Murray was able to turn aside 28 of Washington’s shots. There were points in the game were Washington carried the momentum, but came up empty because of Murray. Murray’s gigantic stop on Jakub Vrana in the second period kept the score at a one goal deficit.

3. Sidney Crosby: The captain of the Penguins battled to keep his team’s season alive. He didn’t have a spectacular game. It wasn’t a highlight reel type of game for Crosby. However, his impressive day in the playoff circle was the reason the Penguins scored their only goal.

Highlights

Next Game

The Washington Capitals win the series 4-2. They will meet the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals. It has yet to be determined when Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Tampa Bay, Florida will begin.

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