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SPORTS Friday 25 May 2018

Ovechkin, Holtby shine in Game 7, Caps beat Lightning 4-0

Continued from Page 17 Game 7 in the Eastern Con-
Braden Holtby stopped 29 ference final in 2015, when
shots for his second straight they blanked the New York
shutout and the Lightning, Rangers, and again two
who led the NHL in goals years ago, when they lost
during the regular season, 2-1 to Pittsburgh.
failed to score in the last Both of those deciding
159 minutes, 27 seconds games were on the road.
of the series — a stretch of The Lightning had never
nearly eight periods. lost a Game 7 at home be-
Ovechkin, who had never fore Wednesday night.
advanced beyond the sec- "It's going to take a few
ond round, scored 1:02 into days to digest this. It's tough
the winner-take-all show- to sit here right now and
down he had described think of positive things and
as probably the "biggest how it was a pretty great
game in my life." season," Lightning cap-
"The first goal was very im- tain Steven Stamkos said.
portant," Ovechkin said. "It doesn't seem that way
"After that you could see when you have this group
we have all the momentum — and we've been to this
on our side. Holts was un- position before — and you
stoppable today. He was can't find a way to give
special. Everybody was all yourself a chance a win.
in. Everybody was sacrific- We thought we had that
ing their bodies. I think we group. It's just an empty
all deserve the win." feeling right now."
To earn a spot in the Stan- Notes: Ovechkin and Back-
ley Cup Final, where they'll strom made their 11th ca-
play the Vegas Golden reer Game 7 appearance,
Knights, the Capitals beat one shy of Boston's Zdeno
the top-seeded Lightning Chara for the most among
three times on the road, active NHL players. In addi-
improving to 8-2 away from tion to Chara, only five other
home this postseason. players in NHL history have
It's Washington's first Cup appeared in more Game
Final appearance since 7s: Patrick Roy (13), Scott
1998, and the first during Stevens (13), Glenn Ander-
Ovechkin's 13-year career. Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky, center, celebrates his goal against the Tampa son (12), Ken Daneyko (12)
Bay Lightning with teammates Dmitry Orlov, left, and Lars Eller (20) during the second period of
"We played a great game," Game 7 of the NHL hockey playoffs. and Stephane Yelle (12). ...
defenseman John Carlson Associated Press Evgeny Kuznetsov's assist
said. "We deserved to win on Ovechkin's early goal
this." Nicklas Backstrom had an front on an empty net and shutout to clinch a spot in extended his points streak
Two games after being a empty-netter to complete the game gradually slipped the Stanley Cup Final. to 10 games. ... Vasilevskiy
healthy scratch for Game the rout. away. "I felt we could have won made 19 saves. The Light-
5, Burakovsky became the "What a game. What an Washington was the more every game," Lightning ning outshot the Capitals
17th player to score a goal experience. We had a lot physical team in evening coach Jon Cooper said. (29-23) for the first time in
for Washington in the play- of guys pitching in," winger the series with a bruising "We ran into a tough Wash- the series.q
offs this year — four shy of T.J. Oshie said. "The biggest 3-0 victory in Game 6. They ington team that was
the NHL record — when he guy of all had to be Holts. played with urgency from probably feeling the same
beat Andrei Vasilevskiy on He played fantastic, back the start again Wednesday thing, and once you get
a breakaway at 8:59 of the to back shutouts." night and never let up. this far you've probably
second period. Tampa Bay, which re- Tampa Bay's last goal in done some magical things
The winger, who played bounded from losing the the series came 33 seconds on the way."
two games in the first round first two games at home to into the second period of It was the 33rd time in
against Columbus before win three straight for a 3-2 Game 5, which the Light- league history that a Game
sitting out 10 straight with series lead, had plenty of ning went on to win 3-2. 7 was required to deter-
an upper-body injury, add- chances. A couple of shots "We're here to win as team, mine a Stanley Cup finalist.
ed a breakaway goal to clanged off the post, Yanni no matter who gets the Home teams are 21-12 in
make it 3-0 heading into Gourde was unable to get credit," said Holtby, the fifth those games.
the last period. his stick on a loose puck in goalie to deliver a Game 7 Tampa Bay also played