Power play goals were the dominant theme of Games 1 and 2 of this first round series between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals.
The teams combined for 10 man-advantage goals through the two games as the Capitals used them to build leads and the Blue Jackets made use of Caps penalties to storm back into games.
Tuesday's Game 3 broke that trend as each team earned four power plays, but only the Caps were able to convert, getting one on the way to a double-overtime victory over the Blue Jackets.
There are dozens of moments that go into deciding the outcome of a playoff game – some larger than other. But Tuesday night's Game 3 can be distilled down to two power plays.
Washington's 5-on-3
With the score tied at one, the Capitals picked up their third power play of the night when Brandon Dubinsky was called for slashing Jakub Vrana 13:08 into the second.
You break an opponent's stick, you can almost guarantee you're headed to the box.
Columbus killed off the first 1:02 of the power play before Vrana had his stick broken again – this time by Ryan Murray, giving the Caps 54 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage.
Putting Alex Ovechkin and the league's seventh-best power play unit on the ice is trouble enough. Giving them a two-man advantage? That's deadly.
The Capitals won the ensuing faceoff and worked the puck around for a 30 seconds before center Nicklas Backstrom found defenseman John Carlson, who roofed a one-timer to make it 2–1.
Bang. Bang.
The Blue Jackets were able to kill the rest of the 5-on-4, but the damage was done.
Columbus' Overtime Power Play
Later, Columbus would get a golden opportunity of their own when Carlson was whistled for tripping Zach Werenski with a little over four minutes remaining in the first overtime.
It wasn't a two-man advantage, but power plays in overtime are gifts as legs turn to rubber on the ice.
This was a pivotal moment in the game.
After playing catchup on both shots and the scoreboard for most of the night, the Jackets were generating momentum in the first overtime. If they could score here, they'd seize a 3–0 advantage in the series.
Alas, the Capitals took possession on the ensuing faceoff and were able to bleed the first 30 seconds off. Once Columbus did set up in the Caps' zone, they generated two great scoring chances, both off of Cam Atkinson shots, the second hitting the post.
Inches.
Washington cleared the puck three times down the stretch and were able to kill the power play, holding the Blue Jackets to zero official shots over the two minutes.
Game 3 was a tight game. There were missed calls – there always are, but the referees let the teams play.
Both goalies were on their game. Washington's Braden Holtby stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced (.943), while his counterpart, Sergei Bobrovsky, turned away 33 of 35 shots (.933).
In the end, the Capitals took advantage of a prime opportunity. The Blue Jackets did not.
