Washington: Washington’s TJ Oshie scored two goals and Braden Holtby made 24 saves as the Capitals blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 on Monday, levelling their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final series at 3-3.
Devante Smith-Pelly added another goal as the host Capitals, who lost three games in a row after taking a 2-0 series lead, pushed the playoff matchup to the limit.
“We were sure that if we came in and did what we had to do we would win it,” Oshie said.
“Game seven is going to be an all-out war and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The winner-take-all showdown to determine a berth in the Stanley Cup Final will be played on Wednesday at Tampa.
When the championship series begins next Monday, either the Lightning or Capitals will face the Vegas Golden Knights, a first-year expansion team trying to defy the odds by taking the trophy in their inaugural campaign. Vegas beat Winnipeg in the Western Conference final.
