2009 Stanley Cup playoffs: Steckel’s goal keeps Caps alive

Steckel

One of the things the Boston Bruins have lacked this postseason is that “X factor” player — someone who didn’t score much in the regular season but then erupts out of nowhere to score in the playoffs. For the Washington Capitals, that player has been David Steckel. Last night, his goal in overtime lifted the Caps to a 5-4 win over Pittsburgh in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

That series now shifts to D.C. for Game 7 Wednesday.

In 13 playoff games, Steckel now has three goals — as opposed to his eight in 76 regular-season games. Steckel’s heroics were made possibly partly by Viktor Kozlov‘s first two goals of the series and a 3-on-5 penalty kill in the first period that made sure the Penguins didn’t run away and hide early.

So with Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi doing a satisfactory job on superstar Alexander Ovechkin, the Caps’ secondary players rose to the occasion. Now it’s down to one game for all the marbles — a place the Bruins would like to be headed at this time tomorrow.