Penguins Sink Capitals

Pittsburgh
Penguins

Jagr was trying a centering pass when the puck deflected into the net by Washington Capitals defenseman Calle Johansson with 12:04 to play.

"Bottom line, we won," Jagr said. "Outplayed or not, it doesn't matter. Of course, you've got to be lucky if you're going to win."

The No. 7 seed Pittsburgh will face the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in the Conference semifinals.

"I'm glad we won in five games so that we can rest and get healthy and get ready for Philly," Jagr said. "It's going to be WWF with those guys. We should sign some wrestling guys."

The Penguins have won five out of six playoff series against the Capitals in the past decade.

"I guess you have to go right away to that first game," Pittsburgh coach Herb Brooks said. "It gave us a lot of confidence going in."

Washington won their division after a great regular season and the early exit is a huge disappointment for the Capitals and their fans.

"The first game against these guys, we threw it away," Capitals left wing Steve Konowalchuk said about the 7-0 loss in Game 1. "You can't do that. We gave up that one game and it was hard climbing right from there."

"They're the brilliant student who doesn't try all year and then aces the final exam," Caps coach Ron Wilson said. "We're the student that stays up all night, burning the midnight oil. We end up with an A-minus and they get an 'A.'"