Penguins/NHL
NHL gets its dream series as Capitals force Game 7
In a series that boasts the league’s top two players in Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, the NHL got it’s dream matchup and its dream series as the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 Monday night to force a game 7.
While Crosby and Ovechkin get all the hype, this series may have the three best players in the game as Evgeni Malkin is often viewed as an afterthought.
When asked about the performances of Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau added, “They’re incredible, both of them are, but I think Malkin is just as incredible.”
As the series shifts back to Washington
it is believed that momentum has shifted back to the Washington Capitals. The Capitals halted the Penguins three game winning streak to avoid elimination and they rebounded from Sidney Crosby’s third period goal with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
Again, it looked like the bounces were going in the Penguins favor but Washington prevailed getting strong contributions from their role players and a two goal game from Viktor Kozlov to take the pressure off of Alexander Ovechkin.
Pittsburgh was a disappointed team following the game as they missed a prime opportunity to close out the series.
This is the kind of situation where a veteran player like Bill Guerin who is highly regarded in the room becomes a much needed asset to have in the locker room. The Penguins are the more experienced team and they know how to win.
They will be ready to play with their eye on advancing to their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals.
While the Penguins were disappointed in the result of Game 6, the NHL sure wasn’t and after the first two games of the series, this series had seven games written all over it.
As for a PR standpoint, Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said “This is so good for our game, when both players {Ovechkin – Crosby} can shine like this. Just wish it was the Stanley Cup.”
