Both Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Samsonov earned shutouts, but the Washington Capitals beat Varlamov twice in the shootout to take the extra point and pull a point ahead in their head-to-head battle for first place with the New York Islanders.
Officially, the final is 1-0 to the Caps and Samsonov, who was only beaten once in the shootout.
In balance, it was a very tight game, though the Islanders controlled the first period and could’ve easily come away with a couple goal lead, the Capitals did the same in the second period, and both teams had a few chances in the third before they slowed things down to reach overtime.