It's time for the second round of the playoffs, as the NHL's quest for the Stanley Cup continues. This series features Metropolitan Division rivals, the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Game 1: Verizon Center, Washington, DC. In goal: Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins and Braden Holtby for the Capitals. Pittsburgh got going in the second period with a Sidney Crosby goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Jake Guentzel and Patric Hornqvist. The Penguins added on with a Crosby goal, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, passed from Hornqvist and Olli Maatta. Washington got on the board with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Lars Eller and T.J. Oshie. The Capitals tied it in the third period with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Matt Niskanen. Pittsburgh took the lead back with a Nick Bonino goal, his second of the postseason, helped along by Scott Wilson and Justin Schultz. The final held at 3-2, with the three stars belonging to Crosby, Hornqvist, and Bonino. The Penguins have a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: Verizon Center, Washington, DC. In goal: Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins and Braden Holtby for the Capitals. Pittsburgh dented the scoreboard in the second period with a shorthanded and unassisted Matt Cullen. Washington tied it on a Matt Niskanen power play goal, powered by Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. The Penguins took the lead back with a Phil Kessel goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Pittsburgh added on with a Guentzel goal, his sixth of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Crosby. The Penguins extended the lead as Kessel scored his second of the game and fourth of the postseason, a power play goal with the help of Justin Schultz and Evgeni Malkin. The Capitals got one back with a Backstrom goal, his third of the playoffs, via Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie. Pittsburgh replied with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his third of the playoffs, passed from Ian Cole and Kessel. The Penguins iced it at 6-2 with a Guentzel empty net goal, his second of the game and seventh of the postseason, set up by Cullen and Olli Maatta. The three stars went to Guentzel, Kessel, and Cullen, while Crosby, Malkin, Backstrom, and Ovechkin get the honorable mentions. The Penguins head home with a 2-0 series lead.
Game 3: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Braden Holtby for the Capitals and Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins. Washington led off in the first period with a Nicklas Backstrom power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Alex Ovechkin and Justin Williams. The Capitals added on in the third period with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his third of the playoffs, via Marcus Johansson and Williams. Pittsburgh got on the board with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Phil Kessel and Justin Schultz. The Penguins tied it on a Schultz goal, made possible by Malkin and Chris Kunitz. Washington won 3-2 in overtime with a Kevin Shattenkirk goal, helped along by Backstrom and Kuznetsov on the power play. The three stars were Kuznetsov, Backstrom, and Williams, while Schultz and Malkin get the honorable mentions. The Penguins still hold a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Braden Holtby for the Capitals and Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his third of the postseason, courtesy of Olli Maatta and Matt Cullen. The Penguins added on in the second period with a Jake Guentzel goal, his eighth of the playoffs, going in unassisted. Washington got on the board with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Justin Williams and Marcus Johansson. The Capitals tied it on a Nate Schmidt goal, fueled by T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk. Pittsburgh took the lead back with a Justin Schultz power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by Evgeni Malkin and Guentzel. The game ended at 3-2, with the three stars given to Guentzel, Fleury (36 for 38 in saves), and Schultz. The Penguins lead the series 3-1 as they leave home.
Game 5: Verizon Center, Washington, DC. In goal: Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins and Braden Holtby for the Capitals. Pittsburgh opened in the first period with a Carl Hagelin goal, via Nick Bonino and Ron Hainsey. Washington tied it on an Andre Burakovsky goal, passed from Kevin Shattenkirk and Lars Eller. The Penguins took the lead back with a Phil Kessel power play goal in the second period, his fifth of the postseason, powered by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. The Capitals tied it on a third period goal from Nicklas Backstrom, his fifth of the playoffs, guided in by Burakovsky. Washington took the lead with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his fifth of the postseason, fueled by Marcus Johansson and John Carlson. The Capitals added on with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fifth of the playoffs, assisted by Eller and Nate Schmidt. The final stood at 4-2, with the three stars given to Burakovsky, Eller, and Kuznetsov. The Penguins return home with their series lead cut to 3-2.
Game 6: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Braden Holtby for the Capitals and Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins. Washington started in the first period with a T.J. Oshie power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals added on with an Andre Burakovsky goal, his second of the playoffs, going in unassisted. Washington extended the lead in the third period as Backstrom scored his sixth of the postseason, thanks to Oshie and Dmitry Orlov. The Capitals padded the lead on a power play goal by John Carlson, his second of the playoffs, passed from Matt Niskanen and Kuznetsov. Washington continued with a Burakovsky goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, an unassisted goal. Pittsburgh got on the board with a Jake Guentzel goal, his ninth of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Sidney Crosby. The Penguins got closer with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his fifth of the postseason, courtesy of Conor Sheary and Brian Dumoulin. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars going to Burakovsky, Backstrom, and Oshie, while Kuznetsov gets an honorable mention. The series is tied at 3 with the deciding game in the nation's capital.
Game 7: Verizon Center, Washington, DC. In goal: Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins and Braden Holtby for the Capitals. Pittsburgh struck first in the second period with a Bryan Rust goal, his fifth of the postseason, coming off of Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby. The Penguins added on in the third period with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his fourth of the playoffs, via Justin Schultz. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars being Fleury (29 save shutout), Rust, and Hornqvist. The Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference Final to face the Ottawa Senators after this 4-3 series win.
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