WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals rode a hat trick by T.J. Oshie, including the winner 9:33 into overtime, to draw first blood in this highly anticipated second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-3 win at Verizon Center Thursday night.
How it happened: Game 1 lived up to its advance billing almost from the moment the puck was dropped as the Capitals and Penguins delivered a fast, hard-hitting tilt through to its conclusion. Nasty? At times, yes, especially as the game progressed. Take a look at the replay of the Capitals' Tom Wilson taking out the Penguins' Conor Sheary with a knee or Wilson and Evgeni Malkin going at it. The Capitals were the better team by a wide margin in the first period as they took momentum from a dangerous power play and ultimately ended up opening the scoring on an Andre Burakovsky effort. The Penguins, meanwhile, imposed their will in the second period by scoring twice in 57 seconds to briefly take the lead before Oshie tied it up once again after an Olli Maatta miscue at the Capitals' blue line. Pittsburgh was again the better team in the third as the two sides traded goals (Oshie with his second and Nick Bonino, who had a strong night for the Pens), setting the stage for Oshie’s winner on a wraparound that required video review even as fans littered the ice with hats. Both teams entered the game with red-hot power plays but were a combined 0-for-6.
What it means: The Capitals have to be pleased to come away with a victory after watching the Penguins enjoy a pretty wide margin of the play in the latter stages of regulation and into overtime. The second Oshie goal, a weak backhand through Matt Murray's legs, was the first bad goal given up by Murray since he came on in the middle of the first round. It was his first playoff loss after three straight wins. The 21-year-old bounced back and stoned Alex Ovechkin on a third-period breakaway.
87 vs. 8: On this night you’d have to give a slight edge to the Caps’ captain, who set up Oshie’s second goal and was a physical presence, delivering an early big hit on Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley. Sidney Crosby had a glorious chance late in the second period but sailed a shot over the net and was credited with just one shot through regulation. Ovechkin had a number of excellent chances, too, but was denied by Murray.