Penguins 8 Ball Capitals in Overtime
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
When people usually play a game of pool, you can either win or lose with the 8th ball. The Pittsburgh Penguins used the 8th ball correctly against their arch rivals the Washington Capitals. Conor Sheary scored the game winner 34 seconds into overtime, in a 8 to 7 victory.
This was clearly the game of the season so far. The Capitals 9-game win streak was snapped and the Penguins 3-game losing streak was snapped. Also, it felt like a 1980s high scoring game. Well, the Washington Capitals scored 2 goals in the first-period by Andre Burakovsky and Nicklas Backstrom.
In the second period, Justin Williams scored to make it 3 to 0. Was this game possibly starting to slip away again for Pittsburgh? Well, Patric Hornqvist decided to rough up Daniel Winnik and spark some energy into the building early in the 2nd period. Less than a minute later, Evgeni Malkin scored. Conor Sheary and Nick Bonino then would also score to tie the game at 3 in a span of 2:27.
Bryan Rust scored a wrap around goal to make it 4 to 3. 50 seconds later, Evgeni Malkin gave them a 5 to 3 lead. Braden Holtby was pulled, who made 21 saves, in favor of Philipp Grubauer who made 8 saves. It sparked the Capitals quickly by scoring 2 goals in a span of 1:47 by Brett Connolly and Lars Eller shorthanded. 25 seconds later, Malkin recorded a hat trick on the power-play.
Pittsburgh scored a total of 6 goals in the second period. In the third period, Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins. The Capitals would respond positively again. T.J. Oshie scored on the power-play to cut the lead to 1. With under 6 minutes remaining, Lars Eller tied the game at 7 and the rest was history.
Matt Murray wasn't pulled from the game in net and he made 21 saves. These teams split the season series at 2 and it is very possible they could meet in the postseason. Can you imagine if this was a game 7?
