Penguins 6, Capitals 2

What should happen finally did happen.

The Pens out played the Caps for the entire series. They out shot the team from Washington DC in every game this series. They had multiple power play goals in three different games (and scored on the PP in every game except the first one). They held the Caps to 26 shots or fewer in 5 of the 7 games.

In short, the scoreboard was close, but the supporting stats were not.

To me, this means that tonight was not an expected result.

Having said that, I wasn't expecting it to be like this.

Fleury came up with a huge save on Ovechkin on the breakaway while the game was still scoreless (though O-Face isn't that great on the shootout, so maybe it's not that unexpected). The Pens followed with two goals in 8 seconds and that, as they say, was that.

The Pens poured it on in the second period, and by the time the game headed to the second intermission, it was essentially all over.

It was great the see the Pens finally put a team away with a dominating effort.

Sid was the best player on the ice in this series. Despite not being known as a goal-scorer, he managed 8 goals in 7 games. He came through when his team needed him the most.

The Pens will face either Boston or Carolina. I'm rooting for Carolina, simply because it gives the Pens home ice.

This was a terrific series. The games were exciting and close (other than Game 7). The NHL (and Pittsburgh) couldn't have asked for more.

Next up: Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, probably on Saturday or Sunday.