Penguins edge Capitals, Knights smash Sharks
>> WASHINGTON: Jake Guentzel had the game winner as Pittsburgh scored three unanswered goals in the third period to storm back and beat Washington 3-2 in the opening game of their second round NHL play-off series.
American Guentzel finished with one goal and two assists as he had a hand in every goal for the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions, who trailed 2-0 early in the third period on Thursday.
Sidney Crosby delivered a goal and an assist as he once again got the better of Capitals’ star Alex Ovechkin in the 66th career meeting between two of the NHL’s premier players.
As the Penguins and Capitals renewed their play-off rivalry, the Vegas Golden Knights opened their Western Conference second-round series with a 7-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Cody Eakin, Erik Haula, Jonathan Marchessault, Alex Tuch, Shea Theodore, Colin Miller and James Neal all scored for the Knights and goalie Marc Fleury stopped all 33 shots he faced as Vegas continued a dream play-off run that saw them become the first expansion side to sweep a play-off series with their 4-0 first-round win over the Los Angeles Kings.
In Washington, Penguins goaltender Matt Murray was outstanding when he had to be, stopping 32 of 34 shots, including 17 saves in the final period. He made a clutch blocker save late in the third on forward Brett Connolly that helped preserve the win.
“He does it time and time again for us,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan of Murray.
Swede Patric Hornqvist also scored for the Penguins, who have made a habit of slapping the Capitals around in the NHL play-offs before going on to win the Stanley Cup.
The hard-luck Capitals are trying to avoid being eliminated by Pittsburgh for the third straight year. They are 1-9 all-time in post-season series against the Penguins, including the last two seasons and in 2009.
Russia’s Ovechkin is not faring any better when he goes head-to-head with his Canadian rival and two-time Olympic gold medal winner Crosby. The 32-year-old Ovechkin has never even reached the NHL semi-finals let alone won a Stanley Cup.
Goaltender Braden Holtby, who had to win back the starting role he briefly lost at the beginning of the post-season, made 22 saves in the loss.