Alex Ovechkin Late Goal Gives Capitals Game 3 Win vs. Sidney Crosby, Penguins

An Alex Ovechkin goal with 1:07 left lifted the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 Game 3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday, giving them a 2-1 series lead in the process. 

Nicklas Backstrom had three assists in the game, including the game-winner, but it was Ovechkin who finished things off with one of the biggest goals of his career.

While these teams have battled in the second round in three straight seasons, this is the first time Washington has held a series lead since a 1-0 advantage in 2016.

The Capitals also remain undefeated in four road games this postseason as they move one step closer to ending their decadelong struggles in this round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel each had a goal and an assist to continue their hot starts to the postseason, but it wasn't enough to keep the Capitals down.

Ovechkin, who also had an assist in the win, matched a personal playoff record with his fourth straight game with a goal, per John Buccigross of ESPN.

At times, the game was exactly what you would expect from two teams that genuinely dislike each other. There were 24 combined penalty minutes and several big hits, including another questionable one from Capitals forward Tom Wilson. This one caused Zach Aston-Reese to leave the ice with a broken jaw and a concussion, as the team announced after the game.

Greg Wyshynski of ESPN wasn't happy about the result on the ice in the first period:

The action picked up in the second period, however, with both teams finally finding the back of the net and repeating it often.

Washington was the first on the scoreboard, turning the tail end of one of those penalties into the opening goal of the game:

The visitors scored a second time in the period, but the Penguins were even more impressive while once again showing they can score in bunches.

They started with two goals in a little more than two minutes to take a 2-1 lead:

The second of the team's goals came on the power play, ending a streak of 22 successful penalty kills from Washington. Evgeni Malkin, playing for the first time this series because of a lower-body injury, had an assist on the play.

Guentzel then set up Crosby for the go-ahead goal with some fancy stick work:

Matt Niskanen tied things up in the third, though, creating the type of drama we have come to expect from this series.

The Capitals then turned to their best player, who stepped up when it mattered most to give his team the series lead.

The teams will have one day of rest before returning to the ice for Game 4 on Thursday. Now facing a 2-1 deficit, the Penguins will try to get one back before the series shifts back to Washington.