Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Oshie’s hat trick lets Caps just barely squeak by Penguins in OT

F0tdE2BvhoJV
The Capitals jumped to a 1-0 series lead over the Penguins thanks to a hat trick from T.J. Oshie. Oshie's two goals in regulation helped force the extra time, with the teams tied at 3-3, while his third sealed the win.

What a start.

This series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals might be headlined by Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, but as many have said in the lead-up to tonight’s opener, there is so much more to this second round matchup than that. Washington’s 4-3 overtime victory in Game 1 tonight could be offered up as Exhibit A.

This game had everything except big offensive showings from Crosby and Ovechkin. They had their moments, but in the end combined for just one assist.

What we got instead was a hat trick by T.J. Oshie that was completed with a game-winning goal that made it past the line by such a narrow margin that it warranted a video review:

This game also featured a sequence of three goals in 90 seconds and yet also some great saves by goaltenders Braden Holtby and Matt Murray. At the other end of the spectrum, there was a controversial hit by Tom Wilson that might lead to a suspension.

There was even some odd stuff. Like how Jay Beagle got a stick stuck in his equipment.

Twice:

If this game sets the tone for the rest of the series, then we should be in for a closely contested, highlight filled affair.

NOTES:

-- Nick Bonino had a goal and an assist for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin and Ben Lovejoy accounted for the Penguins’ other markers.

-- Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky scored the game’s opening goal. It was his first marker of the 2016 playoffs.

-- Washington outshot Pittsburgh 15-9 in the first period, but Pittsburgh ended up with a 45-35 edge.

-- This is the first time in the 2016 playoffs that Braden Holtby has allowed more than two goals. He surrendered just five goals in six games to Philadelphia.

-- Matt Murray suffered his first career postseason loss after winning three straight contests against the New York Rangers.