NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 9, 2017
MONDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
WASHINGTON 5, Pittsburgh 2 – series tied 3-3
CAPITALS SURGE TO FORCE GAME 7 . . .
The Capitals raced out to a five-goal lead on the strength of multi-point efforts from Andre Burakovsky (2-0—2), Nicklas Backstrom (1-1—2), T. J. Oshie (1-1—2) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (0-2—2) to stave off elimination for the second time in the series and force Game 7.
* The Capitals came back to force Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in a best-of-seven series for the fourth time in franchise history (also: 1988 DSF vs. PHI, 2008 CQF vs. PHI and 2009 CQF vs. NYR). They are 2-1 in Game 7s after rallying from a 3-1 series deficit.
* Washington scored five goals when facing elimination for the first time since Game 6 of the 2009 CSF vs. PIT (5-4 OT W). Pittsburgh went on to win Game 7 of that series by a score of 6-2.
* Backstrom, who paces the Capitals with 6-7—13 this postseason, scored his 26th career playoff goal (all w/ WSH) to pass Dale Hunter (25) for sole possession of third place in franchise history.
* Burakovsky recorded the second multi-goal game of his playoff career (35 GP) and his second consecutive multi-point contest (also: 1-1—2 in Game 5). He recorded 3-3—6 over his first 33 career postseason appearances.
. . . SETTING UP A GAME 7 DOUBLE-HEADER ON WEDNESDAY
Wednesday will now feature two Game 7s, with Pittsburgh visiting Washington (7:30 p.m. ET on CBC, TVAS, NBCSN) followed by Edmonton vs. Anaheim (10 p.m. ET on SN, TVAS, NBCSN):
* The Penguins will contest a Game 7 for the second straight year (2016 CF vs. TBL: 2-1 W) and 16th time in franchise history (8-7). Pittsburgh owns a perfect 5-0 record in Game 7s on the road, including two wins in Washington (1992 DSF: 3-1 W and 2009 CSF: 6-2 W).
* The Capitals will play a Game 7 for the 15th time in franchise history and sixth time in the past six years. Washington holds a 4-10 record all-time in Game 7s, with three of those victories coming on home ice (1988 DSF vs. PHI: 5-4 OT W; 2009 CQF vs. NYR: 2-1 W; and. 2015 FR vs. NYI: 2-1 W).
* The Oilers will play a Game 7 for the first time since the 2006 Stanley Cup Final at CAR (3-1 L) and 10th time in franchise history. They are 6-3 in nine such contests, including a 3-2 mark on the road.
* The Ducks will play a Game 7 for the fifth straight year and ninth time in franchise history. They hold a 2-6 record in eight previous Game 7s, including a 1-4 mark on home ice. Anaheim’s two Game 7 victories came in the 1997 CQF vs. PHX and 2006 CQF at CGY.
GAME 7 QUICK HITS
* Home teams are 97-69 (.584) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 3-2 mark in 2016.
* The team that scores first is 124-42 all-time (.747), including a 5-0 mark in 2016.
* Forty Game 7s have required overtime (40-of-166, 24.1%). Home and road teams each have 20 wins.
NHL.COM UNVEILS HISTORICAL PLAYOFF STATS
As part of the NHL’s year-long Centennial celebration, NHL.com has unveiled a century of playoff statistics, including box scores and detailed player logs from every postseason game in League history.
Click here for more information.
LOOSE PUCKS
Capitals forward T.J. Oshie opened the scoring and added an assist to set a career playoff high with 4-8—12 in 12 GP . . . Sidney Crosby recorded his 97th career playoff assist (all w/ PIT, 134 GP) to pass Mario Lemieux (96 in 107 GP) for sole possession of first place on the Penguins’ all-time list . . . Penguins forward Jake Guentzel scored his ninth goal of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs to extend his franchise record for goals by a rookie in a single postseason. Guentzel (9-4—13 in 11 GP) also tied Jaromir Jagr (3-10—13 in 1991) for most points by a Penguins rookie in a single postseason . . . ICYMI: Behind-the-scenes footage of Nashville’s series-clinching victory.
SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Ottawa @ NY Rangers, OTT leads 3-2, 7:30 p.m., CBC, TVAS, NBCSN
SENATORS LOOK TO ADVANCE TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
The Senators, who hold a 3-2 series lead, look to reach the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in franchise history (2003 and 2007) when they visit the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The home team has won each of the first five games in the series, including two overtime victories by Ottawa. Both clubs are captained by defensemen who lead their respective team in points: Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson (1-10—11 in 11 GP), who paces all blueliners in scoring in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and New York’s Ryan McDonagh (2-5—7 in 11 GP).
