The Capitals pounced on the Pittsburgh Penguins early once again and this time – they never released their chokehold on the pesky Pens, winning game two here at Capital One Arena, 4 -1.
The best-of-seven NHL Eastern Conference semi-finals are now tied 1-1 with game three set for PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Tuesday at 7:30 (99.1 FM).
Alex Ovechkin snapped his seventh goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs high past Matt Murray’s glove-hand for the game’s opening goal at the 1:26 mark of the first and it was a lead the Caps would never relinquish. They even took a 2-0 lead, which has been a major problem in the playoffs (especially at home) on a Jakub Vrana power-play goal and for the second time in the post-season were able to hang on and win a game in which they led by that score.
The only other occasion was game four of the Columbus series win, but that was at Nationwide Arena. This was the first time the Caps had a 2-0 lead at Capital One Arena and won during this postseason, something they had failed at in game one and in the first two games (and losses) of the Blue Jackets series.
Brett Connolly’s first goal of the playoffs, on a perfect feed from Lars Eller, made it 3-0 and the Caps had more than they would ultimately need.
However – nothing ever comes easy for Washington. Several controversial goal rulings and one non-call/hit will be talked about in the aftermath. Here’s what happened and my view from high above ice-level.
1 – The Penguins thought they made the score 3-2 midway thru the 3rd period and honestly, so did I. Sidney Crosby wrapped around the Capitals net and fed the puck to Patric Hornqvist who slammed the puck into the corner of the net as Braden Holtby reached across with his pad. The Pens thought it was in. The officials never signaled a goal. The NHL reviewed it and determined that “no definitive replays showed the puck completely crossed the Washington goal line.”
Decide for yourself (via NHL.com): https://t.co/xEM1BjKl7q
It appeared on NBC via a freeze-frame replay that the puck did just barely cross over the entire goal line:
I don’t know, seems like something goal-line technology would fix? pic.twitter.com/LaxKzbIUFf
— Evan Sporer (@ev_sporer) April 29, 2018I thought it was a goal. I think the Capitals received a huge break. Sometimes you get a break that you need and the Caps needed it.
2 – The correct call was made on Jakub Vrana’s power-play goal while a beautiful give-and-go between Vrana and Lars Eller was taking place, Brett Connolly was shoved into Matt Murray and then proceeded to slash his stick at his pads before the shot and puck enters the blue painted goal-crease. Pittsburgh challenged for goaltender interference and the call was upheld.
In my eyes, this was the absolute correct call. Yes, Connolly slashed Murray but it had absolutely nothing to do with preventing Murray from making the save and it was clearly before the shot by Vrana.
3 – Pittsburgh starting defenseman Brian Dumoulin was hit hard by both Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson in a freight-train sandwich to knock the Penguins blue-liner out of the game early in the second period. From my view and via replay, it was a clean hit. Dumoulin had the puck on his stick. Neither Wilson nor Ovechkin’s skates left the ice. Wilson’s shoulder went a little high into Dumoulin’s head because he lowered his target as he anticipated Ovechkin coming from the opposite direction. No penalty was called on the ice, even after a consultation by NHL on-ice officials.
Dumoulin never returned and only played 08:59. There should be NO league discipline.
Follow Chris Russell on Twitter.
