In a stroke of mercy, Nicklas Backstrom ended Game Five with a tip-in, securing sudden victory and pushing Columbus to the brink of elimination.
Use this space to breathe a sigh of relief. Phew.
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BACKSTROM WINS THE GAME! WASHINGTON LEADS THE SERIES! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/CWG2BJIcja
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 21, 2018
So here’s the scene: Reeling from having been caved in during the third period (shots were 16 to 1), the Caps redoubled their effort in overtime. Trotz shortened the bench, so it was up to the stars to finish it.
And finish it they did.
Getting a rebound from Chandler Stephenson’s shot, Dmitry Orlov loosed a slapshot from the blue line. Backstrom occupied the slot along with Columbus D Seth Jones. Backstrom put his stick parallel to the ice to get a gentle deflection.
Bobrovsky moved for a high-glove save; instead, the puck dribbled in five-hole.
Suddenly: Hugs.
“It was absolutely a big goal for us, [especially] to get a win there,” Nicklas Backstrom said after the game. “It was a quick shot I think from Orly there on the blue line. He shot it before they had a chance to block it.I got a little lucky. I got a touch on it.
“I thought they played way better than us tonight,” Backstrom said. “Honestly that’s just how hockey is sometimes.”
With that touch, Nick Backstrom now has four playoff overtime game-winners to his name. (Can you believe Alex Ovechkin has none?)
ALL THE FEELS. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/6YLbn5PCCi
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 21, 2018
