Shattenkirk shatters comeback
CAPITALS 3, PENGUINS 2 OT
Kevin Shattenkirk scored 3:13 into overtime and the Washington Capitals overcame a late collapse in regulation to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Monday night in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Washington drew within 2-1 in the series when Shattenkirk’s shot from the point zipped by Marc-Andre Fleury’s blocker.
Game 4 is Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins played most of the game without star Sidney Crosby, who left in the first period after taking a hit to the head from Capitals defenceman Matt Niskanen.
Washington appeared to be in control thanks to goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetzov.
The lead vanished in the final two minutes of the third when Evgeni Malkin and Justin Schultz scored in a 48-second span to force overtime.
The Capitals controlled the extra period and avoided a 3-0 hole against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Braden Holtby stopped 28 shots for Washington after getting pulled in his previous start. Fleury finished with 30 saves for Pittsburgh.
The Capitals held a team meeting following an ugly 6-2 loss in Game 2, a setback that dropped the Presidents’ Trophy winners into a 2-0 hole against their frequent playoff tormentors and stirred echoes of a series of playoff meltdowns since the franchise broke into the league 43 years ago.
The game was scoreless just over five minutes into the first period when Crosby skated just outside the Capitals’ crease.
Washington’s Alex Ovechkin slashed Crosby along the upper body and Crosby slid awkwardly trying to maintain his balance when he collided with Niskanen, who had his stick raised.
The stick caught Crosby flush across the mouth.
HART NOMS: McDAVID, CROSBY, BOBROVSKY
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are the three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced on Monday.
The Hart Trophy, which goes to “the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,” will be given out at the NHL Awards on June 21 in Las Vegas.