Wilson suspension major storyline as Pens host Caps in Game 4

(AP photo) The Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin celebrates his game-winning goal against the Penguins during the third period in Game 3 of their National Hockey League second-round playoff series in Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

When asked about this on Wednesday, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz agreed.

With Wilson in the lineup, Ovechkin had 31 shot attempts in the first three games of the series, resulting in three goals and two assists. T.J. Oshie passionately defended Wilson on Thursday morning and called a three-game suspension “very extreme”.

The Penguins allowed another when Jakub Vrana sent a stretch pass through the neutral zone to Kuzentsov for a breakaway – catching defensemen Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin stationed on the left side of the blue line – and Kuznetsov beat Murray on a backhand to tie it, 3-3, 52 seconds into the third. Oshie lead the way with eight.

“We want to win tonight and we did”, he said. So I think that’s when we realized how tough it is to win. Forward Andre Burakovsky, who has been out with an upper-body injury since the Columbus series, skated Friday but is unlikely to return Saturday. Devante Smith-Pelly replaced Wilson on the top line with Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov, but Pittsburgh kept the clamps on, and Murray, who admitted he was “shaky” in Game 3, looked far steadier this time around. “Obviously, Tom is a unique player”.

I mean really big, really dumb.

Jake Guentzel, PIT – Guentzel scored twice, adding to his playoff-leading 10 goals. Guentzel is the first player to register 20 points or more in 10 playoff games since Mark Messier (in nine) in 1988, per Sportsnet’s stats department.

The over has hit in three of Washington’s last five games.

“I don’t think so”, Guentzel says.

Pittsburgh would then kill off the next Guentzel minor before going to work on a power play of their own that would see Pittsburgh get an opportunity with Oshie now in the box, himself.

On the power play, the Capitals were unable to convert. Crosby was at the crease to tip a Phil Kessel shot, while Evgeni Malkin and Hornqvist desperately banged away at a loose puck before getting it past Holtby.

The Jets made it 5-2 just 28 seconds into the third, stifling any Nashville rally when Scheifele scored his ninth goal this postseason from the slot. I knew he was coming, but I had to make a play.

Pekka Rinne stopped 32 shots and P.K. Subban supplied the eventual game-winner as the Predators topped the Jets, 2-1 at Winnipeg. “So I’ve got to be a little smarter than that”. Washington responded with a challenge that there was goalie interference, but the goal was still deemed good and the Pens took a 2-1 lead.

“You can complain about this or complain about that or wonder about this or whatever”, defenseman Matt Niskanen said.