The Washington Capitals forward was the difference in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring his first-career playoff hat trick - including the overtime winner. It was a moment that brought back childhood memories.
"I haven't won too many championships in my lifetime," Oshie said, according to NHL.com's Katie Brown. "Maybe through the youth years. That's kind of the stuff you dream about when you're a kid playing in the backyard by yourself is scoring the OT winner and getting a hat trick. It was awesome."
8 opponents have had playoff HTs vs. Pens, and 3 from Wash: Ciccarelli in 92, Ovechkin in 09 and Oshie tonight.
In his first year in Washington, Oshie finished the regular season second among all Capitals with 26 goals - second only to Alex Ovechkin - and is quickly becoming one of the team's more reliable stars.
"He seems to be up every single game. I've never seen him take a night off," goaltender Braden Holtby said of Oshie. "His work ethic is through the roof and compete level is amazing. That shows in these games that he's going to be one of those guys that's really key for us."
With his three markers Thursday, Oshie now paces the team with four goals during the postseason and shares the lead in team scoring with seven points in seven games.
The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins opened their second-round series Thursday night with what can only be described as a thrilling game of spring puck. T.J. Oshie scored three times, including the winner - barely - in overtime on a wraparound. It needed review - the good kind - and Washington now needs to win three of six.
And you need not worry: It was only 70 minutes, but this series is already living up to the hype. And neither Alex Ovechkin nor Sidney Crosby were factors in Game 1.
Supporting casts
Turns out, this series is going to be about a lot more than Sid and Ovie.
Nick Bonino had a night in Game 1, stapling poor Dmitry Orlov to the bench in the process. T.J. Oshie went to the rink Thursday with six playoff goals to his name in 36 games, and made it nine in 37. Phil Kessel had six shots and an assist. Matt Niskanen - the former Penguin - played 32:13, including 27:24 at even strength. Kris Letang did him even better, skating 34 minutes, 30 at five on five. Brooks Orpik stepped back into the Caps lineup and played almost 26 minutes. Carl Hagelin had two assists.
Crosby dominated the faceoff circle Thursday night, but if you weren't paying attention to the puck drops, you'd be forgiven for wondering whether Sid was out there at all. It was an uncharacteristically quiet game for No. 87, even though his 57.5 Corsi For rating says otherwise. And, yeah, plus-minus is a flawed statistic, but it's hard to ignore Crosby's minus-3 (we tried).
After the game, talk focused on what Ovechkin didn't do, as rookie Matt Murray stopped No. 8 twice on breakaways. Ask Ovechkin and there's no way Game 1 should have been more than 60 minutes.
But it was, and any extra hockey played by these two teams is a gift. These are two excellent teams, with skill - and brawn - up and down their lineups.
"You can expect a good series here," Oshie said after the game, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "The momentum shifts, the big hits, the goals, overtime, the big saves. This is what the playoffs are all about," Oshie added, tweeted the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.
Amen.
Solving Braden
Murray played well between the Pittsburgh pipes. Especially in the first period, when he stopped 14 of 15 shots, weathering the early Capitals onslaught with aplomb. He had no chance on Andre Burakovsky's goal, which opened the scoring, as it came on a rebound. And we all know goalies can't be faulted for rebounds.
The second and third periods, though, were about the Penguins and their march. Pittsburgh outshot Washington 30-12 in the game's final 40 minutes, solving Braden Holtby three times - a feat in and of itself.
Holtby was perfect in overtime, stopping all six Penguins shots he faced, and he finished with 42 saves. Let's face it: He's better when he faces 40 or more shots. It was the first time Holtby allowed more than two goals in a game this spring and for the Penguins to come away without a win hurts, because he's not going to do it often.
Murray's a good goalie with a bright future and it appears as though he'll be the man, as Marc-Andre Fleury remains in a suit. But to ask him to outplay Holtby is a task that he's unlikely to live up to.
For as much digital ink is spilled about Ovechkin and Crosby and superstars in supporting roles like Evgeni Malkin and Nicklas Backstrom, this series may come down - like so many do at this time of year - to the men in the crease. And you're fooling only yourself if you think the Capitals don't have a marked advantage.
Looking ahead
It was a physical game. Seventy-two hits. Numerous penalties. A knee-on-knee hit. And what makes the playoffs beautiful is that they'll do it again after only one day off.
Game 2 goes Saturday at 8 p.m. in D.C. If you're a hockey fan, you're rooting for the Penguins. Because this series deserves to go as long as it possibly can.
In today’s NHL rumor mill, we look at some possible offseason moves by the Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks. What next for the Anaheim Ducks? ESPN.COM: Following yet another disappointing playoff exit for the Anaheim Ducks, Craig Custance suggests they pursue Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin if he’s available via the […]
Capitals take series opening against Penguins, Selke nominees revealed & more in today’s collection of notable NHL morning headlines. NHL Playoff Headlines THE WASHINGTON POST/POST-GAZETTE.COM: T.J. Oshie netted a hat trick, including the game winner in overtime (left), to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening game […]
WASHINGTON - Tom Wilson's knee-on-knee hit on Conor Sheary knocked the diminutive Pittsburgh Penguins forward out of Game 1 temporarily but could cost the Washington Capitals bruiser much more time in the second-round series.
Wilson sent Shea...
Holtby backstopped his team to a 4-3 win in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. T.J. Oshie scored the winner in overtime, and his hat-trick marker gave Holtby his 21st career win in the postseason - a new Capitals record.
Holtby entered the game with 20 career playoff wins, which is tied with Olaf Kolzig for the all-time club lead. Kolzig started 41 spring games for the Capitals during his career, while Thursday's start was Holtby's 41st, as well.
The Penguins gave Holtby all he could handle, outshooting Washington 30-13 in the second and third periods combined. Holtby stopped all six shots he saw in overtime, and made 42 saves overall.
Alex Ovechkin believes in a higher power. The hockey gods, at the very least.
The NHL's best goal-scorer was sprung on two breakaways in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night - the second after an incredible tip pass by Nicklas Backstrom - but was stopped each time by rookie Matt Murray.
Ovechkin finished with an assist, four shots, and a game-high seven hits in 25:01 in Game 1. He was far more of a factor than Sidney Crosby, who played a quiet 22:51 and ended a minus-3.
The puck squeaked over the line and gave the Washington Capitals a 1-0 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but while the Capitals celebrated, Penguins goaltender Matt Murray thought the game should have continued.
"I don't know how the ref that called it a goal could have seen it from his angle," Murray told reporters after the game. "I think I had it."
It's too late now for Murray and the Penguins, as the difference in a hard-fought Game 1 was a matter of millimeters.
