The Washington Capitals won a game on Tuesday night that in many playoffs past they probably would not have won.
They were on the road. Evgeni Malkin was back. They finally gave up a power play goal. They lost 61% of their face-offs and they were out-hit on the night by double digits.
Yet they won -- or maybe stole -- a pivotal game three at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, 4-3, to take a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 Thursday night.
The pivotal moment came in the frantic final 90 seconds of the game as Tom Wilson (more on him in a moment) aggressively jumped out to the point to force a turnover by the Penguins in the Caps defensive zone.
That play by Wilson sprung Nick Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin on a two-on-one and Backstrom patiently waited before dishing the puck to a streaking Ovechkin who had his initial conversion attempt stopped before swatting home the game-winning goal like Bryce Harper swatted a three-run home-run from the lead-off spot Tuesday night at Nationals Park.
In @aleksandrovechkinofficial, the @capitals trust. #StanleyCup
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The Caps had 1:07 left to hold on and they did to secure the win in front of Braden Holtby, who made 19 saves and received some help from his best friend, the post, several times on the night.
** The moment that the hockey world will be buzzing about for at least the next 48 hours is the vicious hit that Tom Wilson leveled on Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese in the second period. Wilson was correctly not suspended for Sunday’s hit that knocked Brian Dumoulin out of Game 2 in Washington and the NHL did not even conduct a player safety hearing.
You must think that is going to change and probably not end in favor of Wilson and the Capitals, despite their view, which is reasonable.
Wilson’s jarring hit to Aston-Reese knocked him out of the game and Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan said his player had a concussion and a fractured jaw that will require surgery.
From one look on video and pictures, it looks like Wilson leads with his shoulder into Aston-Reese’s shoulder. Another look and angle appears to show Wilson leading with his shoulder again but connecting with the Penguins’ center’s face and head first. In addition, Wilson’s right skate appears to be off the ice at almost the same time that contact is made which the NHL will also look at.
In my view, as much as I love Wilson, it was a very close call but ultimately it was NOT a clean hit. Was it intentionally dirty? No. Will he be held responsible by the NHL, considering his track record and what happened or didn’t happen in Game 2? I believe he will and will miss game four due to suspension.
** Chandler Stephenson scored the Capitals second goal with a beautiful double fore-checking job by T.J. Oshie and Nick Backstrom in the corner to free the puck.
** John Carlson opened the scoring with a blast from the point off a one-time feed from Backstrom who had three huge assists.
** Matt Niskanen tied the game at 3-3 early in the third period and had an enormous game overall. He drew a penalty and cleared a loose puck that had trickled behind Braden Holtby and was sitting inches from an open net.
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