Seventeen years ago today, the Penguins blew past the Washington Capitals in a series-deciding game on the road, sending Pittsburgh to the Eastern Conference Final for a second straight season.
It was 2009. The Penguins and the Capitals were putting on a show for the hockey world with six games of what felt like uncontrolled chaos where no lead was safe.
From dueling hat tricks to overtime thrillers, Pittsburgh and Washington were facing off in a Game 7that would help define the legacy of their team — and the pressure was intense.
Three of the six games in the series had gone to overtime and this night in D.C., it was win or go home.
Alex Ovechkin had scored seven goals in six games, so who better else to have an early breakaway with a chance to ignite the home crowd?
Marc-Andre Fleury thought otherwise.
Fleury’s save may have been a wakeup call for the Penguins, who responded with two hectic periods of hockey as they coasted to victory.
Two goals eight seconds apart from Sidney Crosby and Craig Adams broke the scoreless tie in the first period.
Three goals in quick succession from Bill Guerin, Kris Letang, and Jordan Staal made things 5-0 and put the game on cruise control.
