Caps win in OT, force a Game 7

PITTSBURGH - The Washington Capitals supposedly can't win without Alex Ovechkin scoring. They can't win an overtime playoff game. They can't beat the Pittsburgh Penguins when a series is on the line.

All that has ended, and it means a riveting, entertaining series matching the NHL's two biggest names and two of its best teams is anything but over.

David Steckel scored on a deflection of Brooks Laich's shot and the Capitals finally won an overtime playoff game, beating nemesis Pittsburgh 5-4 on Monday night to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"I think it's going to be great game," Ovechkin said. "I think the league wants us to play Game 7 (on Wednesday)."

This one couldn't have been much better. The Capitals, losers of their previous seven overtime games, failed to hold a 4-3 lead late in regulation when Sidney Crosby scored.

They made up for it when Steckel went to the net immediately after winning a faceoff.