Game Three was a full plate. The Caps downed the Penguins in regulation (thank goodness), but so very much happened and I simply cannot wait to talk about it with you.
For the third time in as many games, the Caps took an early lead – this time thanks to John Carlson on the power play. The Penguins responded with two goals on two shots in two minutes and change: a Jake Guentzel tip-in and Patric Hornqvist’s streak-snapping power-play marker. Chandler Stephenson tied the game after some Tom Wilson drama, but Sidney Crosby restored the Penguins’ lead during 4-on-4 play heading into the second intermission.
Matt Niskanen knotted the score five minutes into the third period with a monster slapshot that beat Murray low glove-side. Then, with just over a minute left in rego, Nick Backstrom fed Alex Ovechkin for a perfect game-winner.
Caps beat Pens 4-3! Caps lead the series 2-1!
Sean Taylor got thrown out of a playoff game for what Sidney Crosby just did. pic.twitter.com/BxUcviRqNb
— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) May 2, 2018
#BlurryBarryTrotzScreencapOfTheNight #CapsPens pic.twitter.com/BDEaCaTXkr
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) May 1, 2018
This was a wild game, but I think maybe it was a good one – officiating aside. The talent levels were off the whatever-you-measure-talent-levels-on. The goals were gorgeous, except when they were ugly, which is just a different kind of gorgeousness. There were ebbs and flows to play, but at least there was flow. Once the Caps squeaked their way back into a tie in the third, they really took control, pressing on almost every shift until the inevitable Ovi thing happened.
I don’t know what it looks like when the Capitals beat the Penguins in a playoff series, but maybe I’m starting to get the picture.
Headline photo: Kirk Irwin
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