Murray helps Pens succeed despite struggling Crosby, Malkin

It's hard to believe that although Washington held Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby to two assists and all-world center Evgeni Malkin to a goal and assist in the second round, the Capitals are still done in six games.

Pittsburgh's Carl Hagelin (seven points), Phil Kessel (six points), and Nick Bonino (five points, including two overtime winners) stepped up and did the damage offensively. For Washington, its best players were that: Alex Ovechkin had seven points, T.J. Oshie scored five goals and added a helper, and Justin Williams had five points.

Going into this series between two evenly matched teams, the Capitals surely thought they had one significant edge: in goal. Braden Holtby, the presumptive Vezina Trophy winner, against Matt Murray, the rookie.

But if you look at the numbers, Murray went save for save with Holtby, finishing with a higher save percentage in six games, and winning two of the three that went to extra time.

The shots were about even. Murray was better. He's playing like he's done this whole Stanley Cup Playoffs thing before. And he'll be in the crease for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has to be.