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BOX SCORE
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jeff Halpern scored Washington's first
even-strength goal of the playoffs 4:01 into overtime to hold off a
late Pittsburgh Penguins rally and the Capitals evened the series
with a 4-3 victory Wednesday night.
Steve Konowalchuk scored two power-play goals and set up
Halpern's goal – Washington's first without a man advantage since
its final regular-season game – as the Capitals made it 2-2 going
into Game 5 Saturday in Washington.
|  | | Jeff Halpern's winner slipped between the pads of Penguins goalie Johan Hedberg ay 4:01 of overtime Wednesday. |
After Pittsburgh defenseman Marc Bergevin couldn't clear the
puck from behind his net, the Capitals regained possession and
Halpern one-timed Konowalchuk's pass to the left circle past rookie
goalie Johan Hedberg.
It was Washington's first even-strength goal in 263 minutes-plus
of play.
The Penguins were in position to go up 3-1 with one more game in
Pittsburgh, if necessary, only to continue a long-perplexing
inability to put away series. They are 2-7 in Game 4s when ahead,
including 0-4 at home. They're also 1-4 in their last five home
playoff games.
The Penguins – 5-1 in playoff series against Washington since
1991 – trailed 3-1 midway through the third period following three
Washington power-play goals, but tied it with man-advantage goals
by Jaromir Jagr and Janne Laukkanen.
It was the first game resembling a shootout in what had been a
low-scoring series, with only seven goals combined by the teams in
three games – or as many as were scored Wednesday.
Jagr, scoreless in six consecutive playoff games dating to last
year's second-round series against Pittsburgh, cut the Capitals'
lead to 3-2 by poking a rebound of his own shot from the right
circle between Olaf Kolzig's pads at 11:14 – 28 seconds after Ulf
Dahlen drew a tripping penalty.
Just over a minute later, the Penguins got another power play –
a rarity during the third period of playoff games – when Joe Reekie
held player-owner Mario Lemieux along the corner boards and
wouldn't let go of his stick.
This time, Jagr set up the goal, jumping on the puck in the slot
and, switching from backhand to forehand, deflecting it off Robert
Lang's skate to Laukkanen for a one-timer near the top of the left
circle at 13:50.
Laukkanen's third career playoff goal helped him atone for two
costly penalties that led to Capitals goals.
Laukkanen's tripping penalty allowed Brendan Witt to sail a
knuckleball of a shot from the left point over Hedberg's shoulder,
making it 2-1 Washington at 19:16 of the second.
It was a characteristically bad penalty for the Penguins, the
NHL's most-penalized team during the regular season, a reflection
of the oft-casual approach to defense by one of the league's
highest-scoring teams.
Konowalchuk later scored his second of the game to give
Washington a 3-1 lead, one-timing Sergei Gonchar's pass off
Hedberg's glove at 9:09 of the third.
Konowalchuk also scored at 7:49 of the first with the Capitals
on a power play. Seconds after a brief two-man advantage ended, but
with the Capitals still on the power play, Konowalchuk pushed Calle
Johansson's pass from the left circle into the net as he and
Halpern crowded the crease in front of rookie goalie Johan Hedberg.
That goal resulted from a pair of Pittsburgh penalties in the
offensive zone, on Robert Lang and Alexei Kovalev. Lang was skating
out of the penalty box and unsuccessfully trying to get back into
the play when Konowalchuk scored.
Lemieux tied it early in the second period with another of his
trademark bad-angle goals. Holding off Joe Sacco with one hand,
Lemieux kicked the puck onto his stick from along the goal line and
deflected it off Kolzig's left skate for his 72nd career playoff
goal.
Game notes
Five of the Capitals' six goals are on the power play. ...
Washington was only 2-of-12 on the power play going in. ...
Pittsburgh is 6-8 at home in Game 4s, 2-5 against Washington.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Penguins-Capitals Series Page
RECAPS
Washington 4
Pittsburgh 3
Toronto 3
Ottawa 1
Carolina 3
New Jersey 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Steve Konowalchuk skates behind the net and finds Jeff Halpren in front to score the game-winner.
avi: 1160 k
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Jaromir Jagr's shot is blocked, but Janne Laukkanen is there to knot the game at 3 and force OT.
avi: 1232 k
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Olaf Kolzig denies a barrage of Pittsburgh shots, but Jaromir Jagr's second effort lights the lamp.
avi: 1312 k
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Steve Konowalchuk screens the goalie and redirects the shot for his second goal.
avi: 992 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Much to the dismay of Johen Hedberg, Brendan Witt's goal is good.
avi: 1280 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Mario Lemieux catches Olaf Kolzig by surprise and scores from an impossible angle.
avi: 1039 k
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Steve Konowalchuk tips in Jeff Halpern's centering pass to end the Caps' scoring drought.
avi: 1186 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Jeff Halpern describes the emotions associated with scoring the game-winning goal.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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