COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Capitals eliminate Blue Jackets, will face Penguins in Round 2

Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Here we go again.

The Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 6 of their first-round series, thereby advancing to Round 2 where they will face the Pittsburgh Penguins for the third consecutive year.

For the third consecutive #StanleyCup Playoffs, the @penguins and @Capitals will meet in the Second Round. pic.twitter.com/9YtD9NV9Pl
— NHL (@NHL) April 24, 2018

Columbus built a 2-0 lead in the series, only to see Washington win the next four after reinstating Braden Holtby as the starting goalie in lieu of Philipp Grubauer.

Washington will enter the second round as the higher seed, but after having lost to the Penguins in each of the past two postseasons. Pittsburgh won in six games in 2016 and prevailed in seven last year, and went on to win the Stanley Cup both times.

This will be the fourth time these two teams have met in the playoffs in the Alex Ovechkin/Sidney Crosby era, with Pittsburgh also winning in the second round back in 2009.