PITTSBURGH — Kevin Shattenkirk scored 3:13 into overtime and the Washington Capitals overcame a late collapse in regulation to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Monday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Washington drew within 2-1 in the series when Shattenkirk’s shot from the point zipped past Marc-Andre Fleury’s blocker.

Game 4 is Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins played most of the game without star Sidney Crosby, who left in the first period after taking a hit to the head from Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen.

Washington appeared to be in control thanks to goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetzov. The lead vanished in the final two minutes of the third when Evgeni Malkin and Justin Schultz scored in a 48-second span.

The game was scoreless just over five minutes into the first period when Crosby skated just outside the Capitals’ crease. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin slashed Crosby along the upper body and Crosby slid awkwardly trying to maintain his balance when he collided with Niskanen, who had his stick raised.

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The stick caught Crosby flush across the mouth and the two-time Hart Trophy winner laid on the ice for several moments before slowly skating off under his own power as Pittsburgh trainers searched for Crosby’s teeth.

NOTES

HART TROPHY: Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are finalists for the Hart Trophy, given to the league’s most valuable player.

Crosby is a two-time Hart Trophy winner, in 2008 and 2014. He led the NHL with 44 goals this season while helping the defending Stanley Cup champions post the second-best record in the league.

McDavid won the scoring title with 100 points (30 goals, 70 assists) as the Oilers reached the postseason for the first time in 11 years.

Bobrovsky led the NHL in goals-against average (2.06) and save percentage (.931) as the Blue Jackets enjoyed the best season in franchise history.

FLAMES: Calgary signed General Manager Brad Treliving to a multiyear contract extension.

Treliving has been with the Flames since April 2014. Before that, he was an assistant GM for the Arizona Coyotes and also served as general manager of the Portland Pirates.


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