There are missed calls and then there’s this.
10:58 into the first period, Braden Holtby skated behind the net to stop a Penguins dump in. After leaving the puck for Kevin Shattenkirk, Holtby skated back to the crease. He was tripped by Patric Hornqvist. Blantantly.
It’s the final countdown. It’s do-or-die. It’s sink or float. It’s Game Five in Washington, D.C. and the Pittsburgh Penguins are up in the series 3-1.
What’s new? Alex Ovechkin has been moved to the third line and Andre Burakovsky has moved up. For the Penguins, Conor Sheary and Sidney Crosby are going to be game-time decisions. They both passed concussion tests.
If they’re going to dig themselves out of this horrible hole, the Capitals will need to loosen up. Braden Holtby told the Washington Post, “[the Capitals] need to loosen up a bit and just play hockey. That’s when we play our best, when we don’t worry about anything. We play for each other and that’s what it’s going to take to get this done.” Here’s hopin’.
Penguins lead the series 3-1.
Puck will drop a tad after 7:15 PM on, of course, NBC. *eyeroll*
| Team | Record | SA% | PDO | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Capitals | 55-19-8 | 53.2% | 102.7 | 23.1% (4th) | 83.8% (7th) |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 50-21-11 | 50.7% | 101.6 | 23.1% (3rd) | 79.8% (20th) |
By Elyse Bailey 6 years ago
On the verge of eliminating the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals from the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins may have two of their top scorers back in the lineup. According to Pens head coach Mike Sullivan, forwards Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary are game-time decisions for Game Five on Saturday night. This is an upgrade of their status Friday when their head injuries were termed “day-to-day.”
“He’s had a number of really positive days,” Sullivan said of Crosby, who has been skating since Wednesday. “He’s just going through his normal game day routine like he always does.”
Both Crosby and Sheary passed concussion testing on Friday. (more…)
By Chris Gordon 6 years ago
Tonight will be the most important game the Washington Capitals have played in thirty years. Down 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Caps must win to keep hope alive — not just for this season but for the franchise’s quickly vanishing Cup window.
On Friday I wrote about the Caps’ stunning volume of offense – without having many goals to show for it. Now, in the last hours before the puck drops in Game Five, here’s every last idea I’ve got to maximize Washington’s chance to win.
By Peter Hassett 6 years ago
On Friday morning, Sidney Crosby took to the ice in a black jersey to practice with his teammates on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The color was significant, indicating he was to be treated like any other forward. His yellow non-contact jersey was ditched.
“I feel good,” Crosby said at the team’s training facility in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. “Right now I’m just doing what I’m told to do.”
By Chris Gordon 6 years ago
