Well that was just what the doctor ordered.
The Washington Capitals, in need of a win after letting a 2-0 lead slip in Carolina, responded with utter domination blowing away the Canes 6-0 to take a 3-2 series lead.
The defending Stanley Cup champions played like they wanted to go "back-to-back" even more than their fans.
The Caps seemed to play with a chip on their shoulder from the opening face off. With T.J. Oshie likely done for the remainder of the playoffs, the tone was set with Ryan Kerrigan chugging beer in Oshie's honor and the return of Devante Smith-Pelly.
Phenomenal shifts by the 4th and 3rd lines in succession just gave the Caps a minute straight of zone time. Two really strong keeps by Jensen.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 21, 2019The Caps got their reward in the first period with Nicklas Backstrom scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs.
But with Washington up 1-0, the lead did not look certain at all, especially when the Capitals took three penalties and only managed one shot over the first 13 minutes of the 2nd period.
But that penalty kill was impeccable for the Capitals and that led to an offensive explosion. First, Backstrom got his second before Brett Connolly got the first goal from a 3rd or 4th line player, which the Caps were in desperate need of, in the playoffs.
On all other nights we sometimes don't score once, on this night Backstrom scores twice! #Caps #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/kw35P8fIAA
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) April 21, 2019And in the 3rd period, the Caps left no doubt. Pouring it on and leaving a message to the visitors: We're not going anywhere.
Confident Cakes has spoken! #Caps #ALLCAPS https://t.co/jFuAQat15L
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) April 21, 2019In the final period, Tom Wilson got it started on the power play after just 64 seconds of play to make it 4-0. And then Nic Dowd, after getting interfered with on a breakaway, put away the game with a penalty shot just under 8 minutes later.
This is what it sounds like (and looks like) when Nic Dowd scores on a penalty shot to make it 5-0 #Caps on @1067theFan #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/8SAwLlCiET
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) April 21, 2019With the game in control, the crowd at Capital One Arena had a special message for the injured Oshie, who challenged them to bring the noise in Game 5.
WATCH: Caps fans chant "T.J. Oshie"
The icing on the cake came by way of a screamer from Alex Ovechkin for the Capitals' 3rd power-play goal of Game 5 to go with his two assists.
Alex Ovechkin absolutely uncorked this: "Let my one-timer go!" #Caps in control. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/G6sVgyxfGh
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) April 21, 2019It was the first complete game of the series from the defending Stanley Cup champions with goaltender Braden Holtby getting his seventh career playoff shutout, a Washington franchise record.
The Caps shutout the Canes in a dominating 6-0 performance. Lead series 3-2.Holtby was great.Power play was awesome.Penalty kill was perfect.4th line was best it has been.3rd line was best it has been.Hagelin was a maniac.DSP was all over the place.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 21, 2019Follow Ben Krimmel and 106.7 The Fan on Twitter.
