Pens top Capitals in overtime, advance to Eastern Finals

The Pittsburgh Penguins worked their magic in overtime of Game 6 to eliminate the Washington Capitals after beating them 4-3 in a rough and tumble game that tested everyone's emotions, especially the players. The Penguins and Capitals came into this game with the Capitals looking to push the series to a 7th game at home after winning 3-1 in Game 5 to avoid elimination for one more night.

The Penguins didn't play well in that game and they made up for it tonight, coming out of the blocks racing and putting the Capitals on the back foot early. One of Pittsburgh's strengths so far in these play offs have been their strength in depth and whilst the likes of Crosby and Malkin have been kept mostly quiet in this series, others have picked up the mantle.

The line of Hagelin, Bonino and Kessel has been a revelation and it combines three players that Jim Rutherford traded for this season, which highlights part of the excellent job he has done in turning this team around from a run of the mill middling team to a cup contender. That line in question was the big contributor tonight with Kessel having a three point night.

Kessel got the party the started with a wicked wrister on a screen by Alzner completely surprising Braden Holtby. The Penguins power play, much maligned in this series finally connected in the second period on a double minor. In fact, the Penguins scored 33 seconds apart. Kessel got his second goal of the game after collecting the puck and wraping it around a sprawling Braden Holtby. Hagelin then got a tip on a point shot from Olli Maatta, who was returning tonight.

With a 3-0 lead the Penguins looked comfortable but the Capitals aren't a team that quit. For the rest of the period they chipped away and got on the board late on a one timer that beat Murray. This game the Capitals something to play with and with 7 minutes done in the third period Justin "Game 7" Williams scores to make it a 1 goal with a shot over Murray's shoulder.

The Penguins panicked, they then took three straight delay of games and gave the Capitals an ease out into the game. Carlson tied the game on a 5-on-3 and that was enough to stretch the game to overtime. Although the Pens eventually won through Bonino's goal they could have won earlier had Beagle not dived on the line to deflect a Daley shot out.

The Penguins kept pushing though and eventually won it. Bonino stayed in front of the net and Hagelin's shot on Holtby was rebounded to him for him an ease stab into the net. The Penguins were the better team in this series and deserved to go through. The Tampa Bay Lightning are going to be a tough challenge as they have managed to get this far without two of their key players. Whoever wins has a great chance of winning the Cup, lets hope it is the Pens. The first game is on Friday night.