As of this moment, the Pittsburgh Penguins would face the East’s top seed in a first-round bout. The Washington Capitals sent a message tonight: that wouldn’t be a pleasant assignment.
Pittsburgh managed a 2-0 lead in this game, yet the Capitals wouldn’t be denied, scoring three unanswered goals to beat the Penguins in regulation.
In the process, Braden Holtby won his 40th game of 2015-16, leaving him eight victories from tying Martin Brodeur for the league’s single-season record.
Matt Niskanen’s first goal against his former team ended up being the game-winner for Washington.
It was a chippy game, with Sidney Crosby’s only major impact (zero shots on goal, one assist) being a knee-to-knee hit on T.J. Oshie. Oshie was OK, and also shook off an amusing-yet-scary collision with Alex Ovechkin.
With the possibility of this being a playoff series mounting, this game sure had a playoff atmosphere.
Hockey fans without a horse in the race are screaming “Yes, please.” Fans of the Penguins and Capitals, on the other hand, might fret about the stress.
