Caps ready to face nemesis Penguins

COLUMBUS, OHIO — After dropping the first two playoff games at home in overtime, the Washington Capitals picked up momentum that only got stronger as they took down the Columbus Blue Jackets in four straight.

Now they’ll strive to keep the intensity high as they advance to a second-round rematch with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Capitals, who manhandled the Blue Jackets, 6-3, on Monday to cap their National Hockey League opening round series, are looking to avenge second-round playoff losses to Pittsburgh in each of the past two seasons.

“I can’t wait to take a step forward,” said Washington star forward Alex Ovechkin, who had two goals on Monday, including his 50th playoff tally. “They know how to play, they know the pressure. It’s a huge series for us.”

Goaltender Braden Holtby relieved a struggling Philipp Grubauer in Game 2 and was great the rest of the way. He had 35 saves Monday in a game in which his team was outshot 38-28. Fifteen of the saves were in the third period when the desperate Blue Jackets turned up the heat.

“(He’s) been fantastic,” Ovechkin said. “He’s stepping up bigtime. He’s the top goalie in the league, and he showed it today and he showed it in the series.”

For his part, Washington coach Barry Trotz wasn’t ready to talk about Pittsburgh yet after a taut opening-round series.

“Please let me breathe,” he said. “We haven’t taken a breath since this started.”

Chandler Stephenson had a goal and an assist, and Dimitry Orlov, Devante Smith-Pelly and Lars Eller also scored Monday for Washington, which never trailed in OT in Game 5 on Saturday. The Capitals won each of the three games in Columbus.

After the Blue Jackets went 4 for 8 on the power play in the first two games, they went 0 for 16 in the last four. Meanwhile, Washington scored on the power play in each of the six games.