As usual, this post covers the entire series in the first round of this year's NHL playoffs.
Game 1: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Braden Holtby for Washington. Washington led off in the first period with an Andre Burakovsky goal, assisted by Jason Chimera and John Carlson. Pittsburgh tied it on a Ben Lovejoy goal, passed from Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin in the second period. The Penguins took the lead with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his third of the postseason, via Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang. The Capitals retied it with a T.J. Oshie goal, his second of the playoffs, going in unassisted. Washington took the lead in the third period with another Oshie goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, made possible by Alex Ovechkin. Pittsburgh tied it with a Bonino goal, coming off of Hagelin and Phil Kessel. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime with an Oshie goal, completing his hat trick on his fourth of the playoffs, an unassisted goal. The three stars went to Oshie, Bonino, and Hagelin. The Capitals have a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Braden Holtby for Washington. Pittsburgh got going in the second period with a Carl Hagelin goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Nick Bonino. Washington tied it on a third period on a Marcus Johansson goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by John Carlson and Evgeny Kuznetsov on the power play. The Penguins took the lead back with an Eric Fehr goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Evgeni Malkin and Kunitz. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars named as Murray (23 for 24 in saves), Fehr, and Hagelin. The series heads west tied at 1.
Game 3: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Braden Holtby for Washington and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Trevor Daley and Conor Sheary. The Penguins added on with a Tom Kuhnhackl goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Matt Cullen and Kris Letang. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the second period as Carl Hagelin scored his third of the postseason, with the help of Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel. Washington got on the board in the third period with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fourth of the playoffs, fueled by Matt Niskanen and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals pulled closer on a Justin Williams goal, assisted by Ovechkin and John Carlson. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Murray (47 for 49 in saves), Ovechkin, and Hagelin. The Penguins hold a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Braden Holtby for Washington and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. Washington started in the first period with a Jay Beagle goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Tom Wilson and Taylor Chorney. Pittsburgh tied it on a Trevor Daley goal, made possible by Patric Hornqvist and Sidney Crosby. The Penguins took the lead in the second period with a Matt Cullen goal, his third of the playoffs, via Tom Kuhnhackl and Brian Dumoulin. The Capitals retied it on a John Carlson goal, his fourth of the postseason, helped along by Justin Williams. Pittsburgh won 3-2 in overtime on a Hornqvist goal, his fifth of the playoffs, assisted by Conor Sheary and Dumoulin. The three stars were handed to Hornqvist, Dumoulin, and Murray (34 for 36 in saves). The Penguins are on the brink of advancing with a 3-1 series lead.
Game 5: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Braden Holtby for Washington. Washington opened in the first period with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his fifth of the postseason, powered by Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. Pittsburgh tied it on a Chris Kunitz power play goal, assisted by Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby. The Capitals took the lead back with an Oshie power play goal, his fifth of the playoffs, guided in by Ovechkin and John Carlson. Washington added on with a Justin Williams goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars awarded to Oshie, Ovechkin, and Holtby (30 for 31 in saves). The series still has the Penguins ahead 3-2.
Game 6: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Braden Holtby for Washington and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh struck first in the first period with a Phil Kessel goal, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of Brian Dumoulin and Carl Hagelin. The Penguins added on with a second period Kessel power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, powered by Kris Letang and Chris Kunitz. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Hagelin scored his fourth of the postseason on the power play, thanks to Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley. Washington got on the board with a T.J. Oshie power play goal, his sixth of the playoffs, helped along by Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals got closer with a Justin Williams goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Backstrom in the third period. Washington tied it on a John Carlson power play goal, his fifth of the playoffs, via Ovechkin and Williams. The Penguins won 4-3 in overtime with a Nick Bonino goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Hagelin and Kessel. The three stars were Kessel, Hagelin, and Ovechkin, while Williams and Backstrom get the honorable mentions. The Penguins took the series 4-2, and will face the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Eastern Conference Final and a trip to the Stanley Cup.
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