#CapsPens Postgame Notebook: Best-Of-Five

It didn't matter how the Capitals won Game 2 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it only mattered that they won. Having lost Game 1 on home ice, and having gone down two games to the two-time defending champs before exiting in the second-round of each of the last two springs, the Caps knew that falling into a two-game chasm before heading to Pittsburgh for Games 3 and 4 was not an option.

Braden Holtby stopped 32 of 33 Pittsburgh shots, and the Caps were on the right side of a pair of video review calls, which certainly didn't hurt their cause. But the Caps won Game 2 with a dominant first 20 minutes and a sturdy performance in the third period. In the middle frame, the Caps got away from their game, turned the puck over too frequently and shortened the ice for the dangerous Penguins. Fortunately for them, Holtby was there to cover up when the Caps needed him to do so.

In any event, it was a strong and necessary rebound from a strong Game 1 performance in which Washington's two-goal lead evaporated in a span of five minutes in the third period.

"We know what they're about," says Washington winger Brett Connolly, "and we know that they've got guys that can hurt you. In Game 1, that was tough. We played a really good game, I think, and they just kind of found a way to get some breaks and score some timely goals. I think we learned from that this time around. We weren't as loose; I think we were a little more solid as the game went on."

The Caps scored 17 seconds into Game 1, but were unable to add to that slim lead until the first minute of the third period despite many glorious chances. In Sunday's Game 2, the Caps again scored early. Alex Ovechkin put Washington up 1-0 just 86 seconds after the opening puck drop, and the Caps doubled that lead later in the first frame on Jakub Vrana's power-play goal. The Caps had to sweat out a goaltender interference challenge on the Vrana goal, but the video review upheld the goal.

Connolly scored early in the second to lift Washington to a 3-0 lead, and the Caps weren't very good for the remainder of the middle frame. Thy tightened up just enough to fend off another Penguins push late, squaring the series at a game apiece as the scene now shifts to Pittsburgh this week.

First Things First - For the seventh time in eight playoff games this spring, the Capitals scored the game's first goal on Sunday. Washington is outscoring foes to the tune of 10-2 in the first period of its eight playoff games this spring, but the Capitals are all even at 20-20 with their opponents in the second and third periods and overtime of these playoffs.

Pittsburgh has proven to be most dangerous later in games. The Pens are outscoring the opposition by a slim 8-7 margin in the first period, but Pittsburgh holds a combined 24-14 advantage over opponents in the second and third. The Pens have yet to go to overtime in eight playoff games in 2018.

First Strikes - Vrana and Connolly both scored their first career playoff goals in Sunday's game, and they were crucial tallies for the Caps. Vrana's stood up as the game-winner, and Connolly's goal gave Washington a three-goal lead, the first any team has had in this series.

Vrana's goal was his first since March 16 against the New York Islanders, and Connolly's was his first since March 22 in Detroit.

"It was good," says Connolly of his breakaway goal on Murray. "I think I've been creating a lot these playoffs. I got one disallowed in Columbus, and last game - late in the game - I had a good chance, and he made a good save.

"Just stick with it. I just wanted to shoot it as hard as I could over his glove; that's where I like to shoot it. I was very, very happy to see that one trickle in. It was a long time coming, but hopefully I can ride this wave like I have this year after I've gotten one. And hopefully I can go on a little bit of a streak here and help the guys win."

That three-goal lead was important to the Caps, who have owned a two-goal lead at some point in each of their three losses in the 2018 playoffs.

Vrana's first goal came in his seventh career playoff game and Connolly's came in his 15thpostseason contest in the league. Those goals are the first - and thus far only - examples of secondary scoring from either side in this still-young series.

Special Delivery -Vrana's goal was also the first produced by Washington's second power play unit this spring. It was the Caps' 10thpower play goal overall; they've scored at least one power-play goal in seven of their eight postseason games this spring. Only in Game 1 of the Pittsburgh series - when they had all of 32 seconds worth of power-play time - were the Caps not able to light the lamp with the extra man.

Vrana's goal enabled the Caps to cash in on the first full, two-minute power play opportunity they've had in the series.

"Huge goal," says Connolly of the Vrana power-play goal. "Just momentum - the building was rocking after that. He has been positive. In the last little bit he hasn't played a lot of minutes, but when he is called upon he is creating on the power play. Big goal for him, and big goal for our team. Hopefully he can keep going and contribute any way he can, along with our line, too."

Washington continued its excellence on the other side of the special teams coin, too, killing off all three Pittsburgh power plays on the afternoon. The Caps have snuffed out 22 straight opposition power plays dating back to late in Game 2 of their first-round series against Columbus.

Washington is second in the league with a 32.3% power play efficiency rate and its penalty kill ranks fifth at 86.2%. The Caps' 118.5 special teams index is tops among all of the 16 playoff entrants.

Helping Hands - Holtby assisted on Washington's game-winning goal, swiftly sliding the puck up ice to Vrana in the waning seconds of a power play in the first period. Vrana gained the Pittsburgh zone, executed a give-and-go with Lars Eller, and popped a shot past the glove hand of Pens goalie Matt Murray to double Washington's first-period lead to 2-0.

Holtby now has three career assists in 66 games of Stanley Cup playoff action; he has eight assists in 361 career regular season games. He was also credited with a shot on goal in Sunday's game as well.

By The Numbers - John Carlson led the Caps with 25:09 in ice time … Ovechkin and Michal Kempny led the Caps with four shots on net each … Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom led the Capitals with nine shot attempts each … Wilson led the Caps with seven hits … Brooks Orpik led the Caps with five blocked shots, and the Caps combined to block nearly as many shots (31) as Holtby made saves (32).