Newcomers Power Penguins Past Capitals in OT

Leave it to lucky No. 13.

With the stealth of a black (and gold) cat slipping from the shadows at the bewitching hour, Nick Bonino materialized–seemingly out of nowhere–to score the series-winner last night in Game 6 before an anxious throng at Consol Energy Center, effectively pounding a wooden stake through the Washington Capitals’ playoff hopes.

Led by the ubiquitous, bearded Bonino, GM Jim Rutherford’s acquisitions were huge. Especially in a series where superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined for a goal and three assists.

Indeed, the “newcomer” line of Bonino, Carl Hagelin, and Phil Kessel proved to be the difference in last night’s electric 4-3 overtime triumph over the Capitals. The trio tallied all of the Penguins’ goals and seven of the home team’s dozen points.

Betraying few ill effects from the drubbing they received in Game 5, the Pens snatched the lead at 5:41 of the first period. Kris Letang forced a turnover and relayed the puck to Hagelin, who nudged it ahead to Brian Dumoulin. “Dumo,” in turn, fed Kessel streaking down the off wing. The speedy forward reached the top of the circle and fired, beating All-Star Braden Holtby to the short side for the all-important first goal.

The game turned–audibly–at 6:25 of the second period when Brooks Orpik caught Patric Hornqvist in the mouth with an errant stick following a brief skirmish. The former Pens’ stalwart drew blood–and a double-minor.

The black and gold wasted little time. Letang spotted Kessel down low and hit him with a crisp diagonal pass. The Wisconsin native faked a look to Crosby before walking around Holtby and rifling the puck home. Thirty-three seconds later Hagelin cut to the net and deflected Olli Maatta’s rising drive past Holtby.

In a flash the Pens were up 3-0.

Having built a seemingly insurmountable lead, the locals worked extra hard to give it away. With Chris Kunitz in the box for tripping, T.J. Oshie lit the fuse on an epic–and near fatal–Capitals’ comeback. Finding a soft spot in the Pens’ coverage, the hustling winger beat goalie Matt Murray with a twisting one-timer 90 seconds before the horn.

However, faint, the Caps had a pulse.

The throb became a heartbeat at 7:23 of the third period. Justin Williams, who combined with Oshie to score eight of the Caps’ 15 goals during the series, beat Murray high to the glove side to close the gap to 3-2.

Then, in a stunning turn of events, Kunitz, Bonino and Ian Cole each were whistled for delay of game penalties within a two-minute span. With top penalty-killers Bonino and Cole languishing in the sin bin, John Carlson took a perfect set up from Alex Ovechkin and blew the puck past Murray with a tick under seven minutes remaining in regulation.

The Caps’ bench exploded in celebration. In the stands, you could hear the proverbial pin drop. In one fell swoop, the air had been let out of the building.

Somehow our guys regrouped. Tapping into the marvelous resilience that’s been a hallmark under coach Mike Sullivan, the Pens came out flying in overtime. Shaking off a miraculous game-saving effort by Jay Beagle to deny Hornqvist, they piled up an early 5-3 edge in shots.

The end came with sudden swiftness. Six-and-half minutes into OT the newcomers poured into the Washington zone. Hagelin reversed the puck to Kessel along the wall and raced to the slot for a return pass. Holtby stopped “Hags,” but couldn’t deny Bonino, who pounced on the rebound.

The fans erupted. “Bones” thrust his stick skyward in triumph before being engulfed by his joyous teammates.

“It’s the best feeling in the game right there, to win a series and have your teammates around you,” Bonino said following the traditional post-game handshake. “I can’t put it into words right now. I still have chills, a little bit.”