COLUMBUS, Ohio — Alex Ovechkin skated to the Washington Capitals‘ bench to celebrate a power-play goal by hugging his teammates. The scene foreshadowed the team’s relief and ecstasy that came at the end of the game.
The Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 6-3, in Game 6 to clinch their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series and advance to the second round. For the third straight year, the Capitals will face the Pittsburgh Penguins, two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, in the second round of the playoffs.
Ovechkin scored twice and Devante Smith-Pelly and Chandler Stephenson added third-period goals that put it out of reach for Columbus.