Capitals vs. Penguins 2016 final score: Quick overtime has Washington hanging on the edge of elimination
The Capitals have to win the next three games to advance.
Patric Hornqvist had the overtime winner and Matt Murray saved 34 in the victory.
An entertaining first period started well for the Capitals. Jay Beagle posted his third goal of the playoffs on a shot that was labeled top corner just three minutes in. Murray had no chance on the backhanded shot, which went in and out of the goal quickly enough that it originally wasn’t called on the ice.
The Penguins got the tally back six minutes later to make it 1-1 by the midway point of the first. The goal came off a Penguins rush as Trevor Daley's original shot got muffled by a Capitals defenseman and found its way through Braden Holtby at half-speed thanks to the deflection.
Matt Cullen then gave the Penguins their first lead of the game three minutes into the second period. Right off the face off, the Penguins were able to shovel the puck down to Cullen, who gained a half step on the Capitals defense and fired home the puck just before Holtby could close down the five hole.
The Penguins led 2-1 until late in second when John Carlson got the equalizer. Sustained zone pressure for Washington put all of Pittsburgh's defense on one half of the ice, leaving Carlson open in front of the net to snipe one past Murray for the 2-2 strike.
Cullen had a great chance to break the tie midway through the third period on a 2-on-1 rush, but the forward hit the crossbar to keep the game even. With a back-and-forth third, extra hockey was needed to decide the outcome of Game 4.
Overtime was a quick affair, as Hornqvist jumped on a defensive zone turnover from Mike Weber 2:34 into the extra period. The defenseman was trying to bat the puck to safety away from the front of the net, but it landed right on Hornqvist's stick for the game winner.
