After two periods of defensive hockey and solid goaltenders, the Penguins and Capitals burst out for three goals in the first 3:49 of the third period. Fortunately for the Pens, they emerged from the outburst with a 2-1 lead and were able to escape Washington with a 3-1 victory.
In an even first period, the Penguins had three straight power plays, including a 47-second 5-on-3, but they were unable to solve Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. Holtby
In the second, the ice tilted towards the Capitals, who outshot the Pens 13-4 while getting three straight power plays of the their own in the middle frame, but couldn’t beat Marc-Andre Fleury.
In the early third, the home team took the lead on an Evgeny Kuznetsov shot that deflected off the skate of Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi and slid through the pads of Fleury.
The Capitals couldn’t use the momentum to their advantage, as just 24 seconds later, Beau Bennett streaked down the right wing, firing a shot on Holtby while still on the move at the faceoff circle. Holtby made the initial save, but the rebound came right back to Bennett, whose second shot found the back of the net.
Bennett’s goal in his first game back from injury gives him a tally in two consecutive games. Nick Bonino and Olli Maatta assisted on Bennett’s goal.
Phil Kessel notched the Pens second goal and the eventual game-winner at 3:49 when he finished a one-time when an attempted pass from Evgeni Malkin rolled off his stick and trickled across the crease to Kessel. David Perron got the second assist and his first point of the season.
The intensity ratcheted up in the third period after what was a lackluster effort through 40 minutes. Both goaltenders stood tall, particularly Fleury, who finished with 33 stops and was named the game’s first star.
Bonino added an empty netter with Holtby pulled at 18:17 to close the books on the Capitals comeback bid.
“If we win the game 2-1, that’s fine with me,” he said to Pierre McGuire of NBC Sports after the game. “That’s better than 5-4.”
Holtby continued his stellar play against the Penguins, stopping 24-of-25 shots, but he ended up being a tough-luck loser.
The Penguins earned their first Metro Division win in their first divisional contest, and at 5-4, are back above .500. They’ll return home to Pittsburgh to face the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow night.
Photo credit: AP Photo
