Pittsburgh Penguins Knock Off President Cup Winning Washington Capitals

The Eastern Conference bracket in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs is set with the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminating the President’s Trophy winning Washington Capitals in overtime on Tuesday night. 

The Penguins opened the scoring in game six of their second round matchup with the Capitals, just over five and a half minutes in when Phil Kessel found the back of the net. Kessel drove down the ice along the far boards and rifled a shot between the legs of Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner, then through Braden Holtby’s five hole for the goal.

In the middle frame, the Pens were able to light the lamp twice within 33 seconds, to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Pittsburgh took advantage of a high sticking, double minor to Washington defenseman, Brooks Orpik, who was returning from a three game suspension.

The Penguins took advantage of the power play situation, with Kessel scoring his second of the game after deking Capitals defensemen Matt Niskanen and Taylor Chorney, then dragging the puck past Holtby’s pad for the goal. Carl Hagelin extended the lead to 3-0 a little over 30 seconds later as he was able to deflect an Olli Maatta shot past Holtby.  

Capitals forward T.J. Oshie was able to get the Capitals on the board, as he lit the lamp, on the power play, with a minute and a half left in the second. 

Justin Williams made it a game, about seven and a half into the final period as he scored his 14 goal in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff elimination games. Capitals defenseman John Carlson was able to tie the game with just under seven minutes left in regulation, scoring on a five-on-three power play. 

With the Penguins up 3-2, they were called for three delay of game penalties, for shooting the puck out of play, within a span of two minutes. As a result, Washington was awarded two five-on-three power plays, one for 54 seconds and another for 1:04. 

As the horn sounded to end regulation, it marked the ninth overtime game in the second round of the playoffs, for the most since the National Hockey League introduced the 16-team format in 1980. 

In overtime, both teams had their chances, and Holtby and Matt Murray were able to keep the game going. Capitals forward Jay Beagle even helped his netminder out with a big save, preventing the puck from entering the net. 

At about six and a half into the extra frame, Penguins forward, Nick Bonino was able to park himself in front and put home a loose puck for the game winner. 

Kessel sent a pass to Hagelin in the slot, as Bonino was then able to put the rebound past a sprawling Hotlby, for his third career overtime winner, sending his Penguins past the top seed in the NHL and onto the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The Penguins will now face the Tampa Bay Lightning for the chance to play for the Stanley Cup. Last time the Penguins were in the Eastern Conference Finals, was in 2013, when they were swept by the Boston Bruins.