Written by at Washington Post.com
Video replay showed Oshie’s stick never actually made contact with Nick Bonino’s head, but the call marked the sixth offensive-zone penalty of the game, and it assured Washington’s 3-2 loss that put the Capitals in 3-1 hole against Pittsburgh in this Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Capitals’ season is one loss from being over.
“Tough time to get a penalty,” Oshie said. “That’s kind of an amateur play by me there. You’ve got to check with your feet in those big moments. I don’t think I got him that hard, but I’ve been on the other side, and the natural reaction when you get hit in the head is your head snaps back. It’s unfortunate and tough to be in that situation.”
This game was a big moment for the franchise to take a step toward getting over its second-round hump, and yet Washington fell flat. The defeat feels particularly damning considering who wasn’t on the ice. Pittsburgh’s superstar captain, Sidney Crosby, was ruled out with a concussion, as was forward Conor Sheary. With No. 1 defenseman Kris Letang and top goaltender Matt Murray already out for the series with injuries, a fully healthy Capitals team was unable to beat a depleted rival.
The wounds were self-inflicted.
With Washington down a goal entering the second period, the most frustrating moment of the postseason arrived just 3:51 after intermission. Forward Jake Guentzel’s centering pass went off the right skate of Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov in front of the net, and the puck caromed straight into the Capitals’ net for an own goal.
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