With a 3-1 series lead, the Pittsburgh Penguins look to have the Washington Capitals exactly where they want them. Game four was the Capitals’ best chance of …well, capitalizing on the absence of the Penguins’ most important defender; Kris Letang, who served a one-game suspension for a high and late hit on Marcus Johansson in game three.
It was a golden opportunity to knot the series at two apiece and it took overtime to decide the winner.
While neither Sidney Crosby nor Alex Ovechkin have dominated the series offensively, they’ve both been all around the puck and very much engaged in the action, and their presence is anything but overlooked.
Hornqvist Overtime Goal Gives Penguins 3-1 Series Lead
After Patrick Hornqvist netted the game four OT winner, Caps goalie intimated that he overplayed the shot as a result of being preoccupied with Crosby looming in front of the net. Even without the puck on his stick, the Pens’ captain poses an ever-present threat on the ice, and the result is often a little extra time and space for a linemate.
While Ovechkin was held off the scoreboard, he contributed seven shots at rookie tender Matt Murray and threw three hits as well as getting away with a hack to Crosby’s hands that sent the Penguins top centreman to the trainer’s area for a few shifts.
What once appeared to be the Capital’s year to possibly win it all is quickly becoming a repeat of previous seasons, which ended in heartache. Game five goes down Saturday night in Washington and Ovechkin and co. will need to find a way to solve Matt Murray if they are to extend the series.
From a numbers standpoint, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is spreading the minutes out pretty evenly, with Crosby, Nick Bonino and Evgeny Malkin all within a minute of one another in time on ice. Caps coach Barry Trotz may need to adjust and look for contributions deeper in his lineup in order to pull out a win on Saturday, and with the likes of T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams (a proven playoffs performer) on the roster, he may be able find the goal support his charges will need to press the issue.
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