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Penguins lose to Capitals in overtime without Crosby

Jonathan Bombulie

There's one thing above all others that can change the trajectory of a Penguins playoff run, and it happened Monday night.

An injury to captain Sidney Crosby.

Crosby crumpled awkwardly to the ice after taking a cross-check to the head from former Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen in the first period of Game 3 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins lost 3-2 on a Kevin Shattenkirk power-play goal in overtime. The Penguins lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 set for Wednesday night.

Coach Mike Sullivan declined to provide an update on Crosby's condition after the game, saying he would be "evaluated overnight, and then we'll go from there."

Crosby was skating across the face of goal after a failed two-on-one rush with Jake Guentzel when he was slashed and high-sticked by Alex Ovechkin, starting a slide down to the ice.

As Crosby descended, Niskanen caught him with a two-handed blow to the side of the head. Crosby's left knee buckled underneath him as he went to the ice. He stayed face-down for a few seconds, then was helped off by trainers and teammates, going to the locker room for medical attention.

The Penguins the Capitals brawl after Evgeni Malkin was pushed into the goal in the first period during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena. For more images from Game 3, visit the Trib's photo gallery.

Photo by Chaz Palla

 

Crosby has had three documented concussions in his 12-year NHL career, including one that cost him the first six games of this season. He missed the better part of two seasons from 2011-12 with head and neck injuries.

Niskanen was given a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct.

"Absolutely not. It wasn't intentional," Niskanen said. "I've seen the replay. In super slow-mo, it looks really bad. He's coming across trying to score. As he's doing that, he's getting lower and lower. When it's happening that fast ... My stick and his head collided. I wasn't extending, trying to hit him in the head. It happened quickly."

Niskanen's explanation was probably not satisfactory in the Penguins locker room, where there was considerable post-game outrage about the hit.

"He hits him straight in the head with his fists or stick," Nick Bonino said. "Just hope Sid's OK."

Washington coach Barry Trotz defended Niskanen's hit as a "hockey play."

"He just sort of ran into him," Trotz said. "There's no reaction to it. Unfortunately, Sid got injured there. I don't know if a guy in that situation, you want a guy to throw his hands over his head? It's just hockey. It's a hockey play. Unfortunately, he got hurt."

Trotz bristled when discussing Ovechkin's role in the play.

"You want me to defend Alex?" Trotz said. "Then is Kunitz's predatory hit on (T.J.) Oshie OK? Or the one on (Nicklas) Backstrom, is that OK? I'm not going to debate about all that stuff."

Sullivan, as is his custom on topics involving illegal hits, declined to give his opinion of the play. He did discuss what he expects from his team in Crosby's absence.

"We're hopeful, first of all, (an injury absence) won't be the case," Sullivan said. "But I think this group has so much character and talent that we're able to endure the injuries that we have. We've done it all year long. We did it again tonight, and we'll continue to do it."

Unable to generate much offense in the absence of Crosby and Conor Sheary, who left the game in the second period after taking a shot to the head in an accidental collision with Patric Hornqvist, the Penguins fell behind 2-0 on goals by Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

They staged an improbable rally in the final two minutes of regulation, tying the score 2-2 with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury pulled.

Evgeni Malkin connected on a one-timer from the right faceoff circle with 1 minute, 53 seconds to go, and Justin Schultz scored on a deflected shot from the blue line with 1:05 left.

Trevor Daley hauled down Marcus Johansson on his way to the net 2:40 into overtime. Shattenkirk scored the winner 33 seconds into the power play on a shot from above the right hash marks.

"When the ref's calling seven or eight penalties," Bonino said, "it's tough to keep them out of your net."

Jonathan Bombulie is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jbombulie@tribweb.com or via Twitter at @BombulieTrib.


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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Penguins' Trevor Daley takes out the Capitals' Marcus Johansson but is called for holding on the play in overtime during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Penguins' Patric Hornqvist celebrates his third period goal during game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
A shot by the Pittsburgh Penguins' Jake Guentzel goes wide of the net during overtime in game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Washington Capitals celebrate their overtime win in game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Penguins fans celebrate Justin Schultz' tying goal in the third period of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Penguins celebrate after Evgeni Mailkin scored a goal late in the third period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Pens celebrate after Evgeni Mailkin scores a game tying goal during the third period during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena against the Washington Capitals.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Penguins' Chris Kunitz hits the stick of the Washington Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov as Evgeni Malkin looks on in the first period of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Capitals' Kevin Shattenkirk celebrates his game winning goal to beat the Penguins in overtime in game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Washington Capitals' T.J Oshie celebrates as he puts one past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury during the first period of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrates with Kevin Shattenkirk after Shattenkirk's game winning goal to beat the Penguins in overtime in game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Washington Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov puts one past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury during the second period of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Washington Capitals' T.J Oshie tries to grab the puck during the second period of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleruy pokes the puck away from the Capitals' Tom Wilson in the first third period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Capitals' Justin Williams deflects the puck past Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in the first period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury makes a save on the Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov in the third period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Penguins' Sidney Crosby struggles to get up after being cross checked by the Capitals Matt Niskanen in the first period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby blocks a shot during the second period of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Capitals' Brooks Orpik checks the Penguins' Evgeni Malkin in the second period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleruy makes a save against the Capitals in the second period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury makes a save on the Capitals' T.J. Oshie in the second period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Capitals celebrate their goal against the against the Penguins in the first period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Penguins' Brian Dumoulin defends on the Capitals' Dmitry Orlov in the second period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
A fan makes their way to their seat prior to the start of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury taps the leg of teammate Ian Cole as they takes the ice prior to the start of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Penguins' Brian Dumoulin takes the ice prior to the start of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury corrals a loose puck during the first period of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Penguins head trainer Chris Stewart helps Sidney Crosby after Crosby was cross-checked by the Capitals' Matt Niskanen in the first period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Capitals' Matt Niskanen takes out the Penguins' Sidney Crosby in the first period during game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Penguins the Capitals go at it after Evgeni Malkin was pushed into the goal in the first period during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Diane Thomas of Portage has her face painted outside prior to the start of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals on Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.
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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Iceburg hugs a Washington Capitals fan prior to the start of game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, May 1, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.