NHL playoff scores 2017: Sidney Crosby injury looms large over wild Game 3

The Capitals won a wild Game 3 on Monday, but the prevailing storyline out of the heart-stopping carnage is the health of one Sidney Crosby.

There has been a lot of talk over whether Matt Niskanen’s cross-check was one of reflex, intent, or accident, and there will be more. The fact remains, however, that Crosby’s absence for the Penguins — however long or short — hurts.

Obviously, it hurts Pittsburgh’s chances in this series. Crosby, no matter how deep the Penguins are, makes them better by almost 100 percent. He’s special and it hurts to lose such an incredible playmaker in such a tightly contested series.

Maybe more so, Crosby’s injury hurts the entire NHL. When Crosby is playing, the NHL is better off for it. Love him or hate him, guys. Search your feelings, friends, you know it to be true.

And don’t forget, Crosby himself has been plagued with concussions throughout his career. Whether this is a head injury or not — or a serious injury or not — remains to be seen, but the Penguins road to the Eastern Conference Final is tougher without him.

Capitals 3, Penguins 2 (OT)

1. Washington almost blew it in the most Capitals way

The Capitals were leading 2-0 with two minutes to go. As these playoffs have shown, a lead is never safe — especially in the final minutes. Evgeni Malkin and Justin Schultz combined for a pair of goals in the closing moments of the third period to send an already wild game into overtime.

Kevin Shattenkirk rescued the game in overtime for Washington with a power play goal to end it, but it was almost a disastrous end for the Capitals.

2. Braden Holtby did exactly what he needed to in net

There were questions coming into Game 3 on whether or not Holtby was his best to start this series. The Capitals netminder shut down any talk that he’s not up to the task quite forcefully in the victory, as Holtby saved 28 of the 30 shots he faced. The two final-minute goals are hard to pin on him, as Malkin’s beat him at a weird angle and Schultz’s was deflected in front of the net. All with a man up with the goaltender pulled, mind you.

Safe to say Holtby is back.

3. The rest of the game was just as wild as you think

We had goaltender interference calls! A Penguin injured by his own teammate! Marc-Andre Fleury standing on his head, in more ways than one! Game 3 had it all, good and bad of hockey. You’ll want to catch up here, or watch some of it below.

It’s a tie between Fleury’s incredible paddle save to keep the Penguins in it for as long as they were, and Shattenkirk’s overtime winner. So why not both?

Justin Williams had a pair of assists for the Capitals. Pretty clutch, even in a Game 3!