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 "It's huge, obviously -- 3-1 is a lot more desirable than 2-2,"
said Penguins rookie goalie Matt Murray, who made 34 saves. "But we
know we've got a lot of work left to do. We know nothing's done."
The Penguins, winners of 21-of-25 dating back to the regular season,
had lost eight consecutive overtime playoff games until Capitals
defenseman Mike Weber accidentally tapped the puck on Hornqvist's
stick for a wrist shot that beat goalie Braden Holtby through his
legs.
"It was obviously great to see the puck go in, we win the game and
we're up 3-1," Hornqvist said. "I tried to shoot it as hard as I
could."
Pittsburgh-native Weber, back in the lineup for the first time since
the opening-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, was trying
to get the puck out when it flew directly to Hornqvist in the right
circle for his fifth goal of the playoffs and first playoff overtime
winner.
 "It's what probably any defenseman would have done in that situation
-- the puck's rolling around and you're trying to poke it out of the
danger zone," Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner said.
"It just so happens the guy (Hornqvist) is flying in there."
Murray withstood a Capitals goal by center Jay Beagle less than
three minutes into the game to win for the 13th time in his last 14
starts -- and the Penguins withstood the loss of star defenseman
Kris Letang to a one-game suspension.
"We didn't take advantage of it (Letang's absence)," Capitals coach
Barry Trotz said. "Now we've dug ourselves a hole. We'll see if we
can dig ourselves out."
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who did not score despite getting seven
shots on net, said the Capitals know a comeback from a 3-1 deficit
can be achieved -- the New York Rangers accomplished it against them
last season.
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"We've got to play our game. We got to go period by period and try
to turn it around, win the next game," Ovechkin said.
The Penguins, who lost 3-1 series leads to Tampa Bay in 2011 and the
Rangers in 2014, have won seven of eight previous playoff series
from the Capitals.
But this was supposed to be the best Capitals team ever -- they put
up 120 points during an NHL season in which no other team managed
even 110. But now, the Capitals must win three straight against a
surging opponent to keep their season going.
"It's not the best place to be," Washington defenseman John Carlson
said. "But we're proud of our game and, at some point, we've got to
dig deeper and work harder and find a way, no matter what."
All four games in the series have been decided by one goal and Game
Five could be another close one in Washington on Saturday.
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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