Time to tie things up

By: MF, 

Tonight's an important game for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they look to tie this series 2-2 in Game Four.

The Penguins suffered some setbacks in Game Three, which included Zach Aston-Reese receiving a hard hit to the head courtesy of Tom Wilson. It resulted in Aston-Reese being diagnosed with a concussion and broken jaw. It was another blow to the Penguins, especially after Wilson had laid a similar head hit on Brian Dumoulin in Game Two. However, this time the league took action and suspended Wilson for three games.

This is a great chance for the Penguins to come back and win this series in three games. The Washington Capitals have really relied on Wilson throughout this series, so it's a big blow for them.

Some more good news for the Penguins is that Carl Hagelin will be back in the lineup tonight. His speed will help to push the Capitals back in their zone. He is a critical piece of the team's offense.

The Penguins have to use the crowd's energy and their speed to put the Capitals on their heels. Lets Go Pens!

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Guentzel - Crosby - Hornqvist
Simon - Malkin - Rust
Hagelin - Sheahan - Kessel
Kuhnhackl - Brassard - Sheary

Defense
Dumoulin - Letang
Maatta - Schultz
Oleksiak -  Ruhwedel

Murray in the net!

Play - by - Play
PENS 3 Capitals 1

3rd Period
0:00 - THE PENS TAKE GAME FOUR WITH A 3-1 WIN! Now the series is tied up 2-2 as the series shifts back to Washington! Great goaltending by Murray once again!

0:56 - Meanwhile, Oshie leaves his feet to make a hit on Letang. Letang has words with Oshie and the two end up dropping the gloves.

0:56 - GUETNZEL SCORES AN EMPTY NETTER/POWER PLAY GOAL! Crosby gets the puck and stops up to fake out Ovechkin. He gets loose and puts a pass up to Guentzel, who puts it in the empty net. 3-1 Pens

1:11 - Capitals are caught with too many men on the ice. Power play for the Pens.

1:20 - Empty net for the Capitals.

3:53 - Not stop play for quite a few minutes. Up and down hockey. Crosby finds Guentzel driving to the net. Holtby robs him in front.

6:12 - The Capitals are bringing it as the clock whines down. The Pens need to push back. They cannot afford to sit back.

10:01 - Hornqvist is hit on the play and goes down the ice. He does get back up and takes a puck away from a Capital.

15:22 - Crosby feeds the puck out to Guentzel, who is stationed in front of the net. Holtby makes the stop and everyone crashes the net for the loose puck. Holtby ends up covering it up for a whistle.

20:00 - Time for the third period! The Pens cannot let up on the Capitals. Finish this one with a win. Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - The second-period horn sounds and the Pens end the period leading 2-1.

2:29 - MALKIN SCORES! A mad scramble ensues in front of the net as the puck bounces off the goal post and sits on the goal line. Holtby is down on his stomach and tries to reach back. Malkin dives out and pokes at the loose puck. The referees review to see if it crossed the line. They rule it a goal. In addition, the Capitals challenge for goalie interference. It's officially ruled a good goal! 2-1 Pens

3:43 - Now the Pens are on the power play for 1:53.

3:50 - Seven seconds of four-on-four as Oshie is called for interference.

5:43 - Another Guentzel penalty. This time he will take a seat for slashing. Ovechkin and Letang end up exchanging words and Ovechkin gets away with a punch to Letang's face.

7:05 - T.J. Oshie scores on the power play. Nicklas Backstrom gets a pass through to Oshie in the slot area. Oshie beats Murray high-glove side. 1-1 tie game.

8:09 - Critical penalty kill for the Pens as Guentzel is called for tripping.

10:39 - GUENTZEL SCORES! Crosby slides a backhanded pass over to Simon in the slot area. His shot bounces off the leg of Matt Niskanen and Guentzel picks up the loose puck. He elevates the puck over Holtby. 1-0 Pens

11:32 - Sheary with a terrible turnover. He made a blind pass up the center of the ice in his own zone. Murray bails him out.

14:30 - Power play time expires for the Pens.

14:50 - Two-on-one chance for the Capitals shorthanded. Jay Beagle's shot goes high and wide. FYI: My internet went out right when the Pens went on the penalty kill, so I missed some stuff that happened in between. Both teams had amazing scoring chances is what I have gathered. 

16:30 - Power play time for the Pens. Chandler Stephenson is called for slashing.

17:23 - The penalty killing effort is successful.

19:23 - Murray makes a save on a point shot that hits him around the collarbone area. He goes down in pain and the trainer comes out to talk to him. Murray stays on the ice. Also, Malkin gets a slashing penalty and the Capitals head onto the power play.

20:00 - We are back for the second period! The Pens just need to put traffic in front of Holtby and keep at it. Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - The first period comes to an end and things are 0-0.

2:10 - Holtby has stepped up for the Capitals. The Pens need to get more traffic in front and create rebound chances.

5:13 - Kessel fires a shot high over the net. Some good offensive pressure by the third and fourth lines of the Pens.

7:20 - Murray is locked into this game. Capitals haven't had a lot of shots, but when they do get a shot on net, it's a quality scoring chance.

11:21 - Schultz blocks a shot and is in some discomfort as he heads to the bench. He stays on the bench though.

12:36 - A really good start for the Pens. Crosby carries the puck up ice and a two-on-one chance develops, but he is unable to get a shot off.

15:11 - Murray with a great save on a deflected shot and he covers up the loose puck.

16:50 - That does it for the power play. Hornqvist had a great chance to put home a rebound, but Holtby denies him.

18:50 - Solid early pressure by the Pens leads to the first power play chance of the game. John Carlson is called for hooking.

20:00 - The puck has dropped in Pittsburgh! The Pens need to use the crowd's energy and their speed to pressure the Capitals early. Lets Go Pens!