Capitals Hit Panthers In Game 3

     The Washington Capitals drove by the Florida Panthers 6-1 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Saturday at Capital One Arena. The Capitals lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.

     The last time the Panthers were held to one goal or less was on January 18 at the Calgary Flames. The Cats were held to one goal just three times during the 2021-22 regular season. Game 4 will be held at the same venue on Monday night. 

     Florida jumped to a 1-0 lead at the 2:45 mark of the first period. Aaron Ekblad pushed the puck ahead from his own defensive zone and Anthony Duclair sent a cross-ice pass at the red line. Jonathan Huberdeau carried the puck over the Capitals blue line and snapped a shot from the top left circle past Ilya Samsonov for his first tally of the series. It turned out to be Huberdeau's fifth career playoff goal. 

     Washington tied it up 1-1 on the power play with 26 seconds remaining in the first. John Carlson backhanded a pass from the top of the zone and Alex Ovechkin released a wrist shot from the right point. T.J. Oshie deflected it from the low slot past Sergei Bobrovsky for his second goal in the series. Ovechkin chalked up his third assist in the postseason. 

     In the second period, the Capitals took a 2-1 lead at 9:51. Nicklas Backstrom brought the puck into the Panthers zone on the left side and made a drop pass. Anthony Mantha angled a backhanded shot from the left circle off Ben Chiarot and Marcus Johansson lifted in a backhand shot from the right of the crease for his first goal. 

     It became 3-1 for the Caps with 1:11 left. After a MacKenzie Weegar turnover in his own zone. Backstom took a snap shot from the slot area which was saved. Johansson then centered it from the right corner and Trevor van Riemsdyk scored on a wrist shot from the left circle. 

     The Capitals got a four-goal margin at the 10:25 mark of the third period with the man advantage. Mantha stroked the puck up the wall to Connor Sheary on the right wing. He whipped a cross-ice pass and Ovechkin blasted a one-time slap shot from the top left circle. It was Ovechkin's 72nd career playoff tally and his 28th power-play playoff goal, which is tied for the most among active players. 

     The Panthers pulled Bobrovsky from the net for an extra attacker with 4:58 to go. Lars Eller tapped the puck and Carlson put in an empty-net goal from his own end wall with 4:20 left in the third. Garnet Hathaway scored on a forehand shot from the low slot following a rebound with 41.7 seconds left to make it 6-1.