Eastern Conference semi-finals 2008–09 Pittsburgh Penguins season

sidney crosby scored hat-trick in game 2 of conference semifinals.

the penguins drew matchup washington capitals in second round semi-finals. anticipation series high considering rivalry between teams , star players, notably sidney crosby , evgeni malkin of penguins , alexander ovechkin , alexander semin of capitals. first 3 games in series scheduled national television in u.s., game 1 on nbc , games 2 , 3 on versus.

game 1 held in washington, capitals owner ted leonsis took steps prevent penguins fans purchasing tickets, such not selling tickets customers 724 or 412 area code indicated western pennsylvania. crosby scored give penguins first period lead, washington scored 2 goals before conclusion of period. mark eaton tied game in second period, washington s semyon varlamov held penguins scoreless remainder of game capitals took 1–0 lead in series. game had 40% more viewers playoff games previous season. in game 2, ovechkin , crosby scored 3 goals each, though dave steckel s second period goal difference washington won 4–3.

the series moved pittsburgh game 3 penguins down 2–0. goals ruslan fedotenko, nicklas backstrom, ovechkin , malkin left game tied after regulation. kris letang scored powerplay goal 11 minutes overtime, winning game penguins. pittsburgh tied series @ 2 games apeice after 5–3 game 4 victory @ mellon arena. after washington goal scored less minute regulation, penguins responded 3 goals in first period. penguins 5 goals came 5 different players. during first period, sergei gonchar forced leave game after knee-on-knee hit ovechkin; gonchar returned penguins line-up game 7. game 5 took place in washington, d.c., next day, due scheduling of yanni concert in pittsburgh. after scoreless first period, washington took 2–1 lead in second. fedotenko tied game less minute third period, goal matt cooke matched ovechkin , game went overtime. 1 second remaining in second powerplay of game, malkin scored give penguins third consecutive victory. game 6 third overtime game of series. washington forced seventh game 5–4 victory. 9 different players scored goals in game.

—dan bylsma, speaking penguins 6–2 victory in game seven

in final game of series, pittsburgh scored 2 goals within 8 seconds of 1 take 2–0 lead after fleury stopped ovechkin on breakaway. pittsburgh scored 3 more goals in second period, extending lead 5–0, before ovechkin scored eighth goal of series. each team added goal in final period end game 6–2 final score. ovechkin scored 8 goals , added 6 assists in series, while crosby tallied 8 goals , 5 assists. crosby s 13-point tally in series totalled 1 less ovechkin s 14 points, highest single-series point total since 1995 playoffs. while shaking hands following final game, crosby told ovechkin had played great series, ovechkin responded, win stanley cup.