Penguins Push Capitals to Brink

Vying for control of their second-round series, the Penguins and Capitals served up a taut Game 4 thriller last night before a sellout throng at Consol Energy Center. Indeed, the Pens’ 3-2 overtime victory was packed with enough plot twists and momentum shifts to do Alfred Hitchcock proud.

The opening scene bore an uncanny resemblance to the closing act of Game 3. Dominant once more, Washington pounded the Pens’ patched-up defense with a heavy forecheck. Snatching the lead on a sharp-angle backhander by hustling Jay Beagle, the visitors controlled the tempo through much of the first period, piling up a 16-12 edge in shots on goal.

Fortunately for the locals, rookie goalie Matt Murray (34 saves) regained his fabled composure. While the Caps’ initial push lost its steam, the Pens found their legs. Midway through the period Trevor Daley knotted the score with his first goal of the playoffs. The mobile defenseman—who logged a heroic 28:41 of ice time in Kris Letang’s absence—gathered in a pass from Sidney Crosby and cut loose a slap shot. The puck hit Caps defender Karl Alzner and slipped between a converging Crosby and Matt Niskanen before trickling through Braden Holtby’s wicket.

Their speed game suddenly in top gear, the Penguins took charge. The black-and-gold surge carried over into the second period, when veteran Matt Cullen finished off a nice bit of teamwork by his ‘mates.

Subbing for injured Eric Fehr, rookie Oskar Sundqvist beat Alex Ovechkin to a loose puck off a faceoff and fed Brian Dumoulin. The rangy defenseman banked a pass off the sideboards to Tom Kuhnhackl, who tipped it ahead to a breaking Cullen. The 39-year-old wonder sped past Nicklas Backstrom and slid the puck beneath Holtby’s right pad.

The Pens seemed a goal away from putting the Capitals out of their collective misery. However, after the home team misfired on a suddenly ineffective power play, Washington got a second wind. Three-time Cup winner Justin Williams harassed Derrick Pouliot into a turnover. After picking the young defender’s pocket, Williams found John Carlson cruising uncovered through the right circle, courtesy of a blown assignment by Conor Sheary. Carlson beat Murray high to the glove side to knot the score at 2-2.

The final period was a virtual tug o’ war on ice, as neither rival was able to gain clear-cut control. Cullen missed a goal by inches when his laser off the rush rang harmlessly off the crossbar. Minutes later Murray snared T.J. Oshie’s wrister to keep the score tied.

Alzner provided the Penguins with a golden opportunity late in the frame when he flattened Crosby near the side of the net to earn a high-sticking call. Once again the Pens’ power play fizzled.

The bounces seemed to favor Washington. But in the overtime stare-down, the Capitals flinched first. Native son Mike Weber intercepted a Sheary pass, but flubbed his one-handed clearing attempt. Patric Hornqvist gobbled up the loose puck and ripped it between Holtby’s legs for the game-winner.

Visibly upset, Holtby skated to the Caps’ bench and smashed his stick off the top of the dasher boards. Meanwhile, the black and gold poured off the bench like bees buzzing around a hive to mob Hornqvist.

The intro to the old Wide World of Sports show described it perfectly.

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Fehr Out

Fehr missed last night’s game with an undisclosed injury. He’s questionable to return for Game 5 Saturday night in Washington.

While Sundqvist replaced Fehr, Justin Schultz filled in for the suspended Letang. The former University of Wisconsin star played nearly 18 minutes and registered two shots on goal and three hits, along with a blocked shot.

Steve Oleksy, Tom Sestito and Jeff Zatkoff were healthy scratches.

Crosby Okay

Crosby absorbed a wicked slash from arch-nemesis Ovechkin six minutes into the final frame. Fearing the worst, the Pens’ captain exited to the locker room, smashing his stick on the wall in frustration.

Sid returned to the ice a few minutes later no worse for the wear. Afterward, he absolved Ovechkin of any wrongdoing.

“I don’t think there was any intention there,” Crosby explained to Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “He’s trying to clear it. I’m trying to keep a puck in. He’s trying to make sure that I don’t. Caught me there, but that’s part of it.”