from Gare Joyce of Sportsnet,

On the one side, you have the Washington Capitals, who have three games (if they can make them necessary) to prove that their long-running act shouldn’t be blown up.

On the other, you have the Pittsburgh Penguins, seemingly a lock to win the Stanley Cup if they can just manage to lose one or two more first-line players in the coming days.

These were only a couple of things that you were left to conclude after Pittsburgh’s 3-2 victory of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal, a couple of nights after Penguins’ captain and Hart Trophy finalist Sidney Crosby was helped off the ice feeling the effects of a concussion. The defending Stanley Cup winners seized a commanding 3-1 lead with the series moving on to Washington for Game 4 Saturday night.

Washington wasn’t outplayed. They managed to get 38 pucks on Marc-Andre Fleury and had another 24 shots blocked by Pittsburgh skaters. On the flipside, Braden Holtby made only 15 saves and another 11 hit Capitals defenders.

Washington was outcompeted.

"Our top guys didn’t step up," Washington coach Barry Trotz said.

continued

Game highlights are below which includes the questionable penalty call against T.J. Oshie late in the game with Washington down by a goal.