This game was just a case of two different teams heading in two completely different directions. The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame an early deficit by scoring five straight goals in the second period en route to their fifth straight win. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals lost their third straight and are now a league-worst 2-8-1 on the season.
Despite the records, this game had a lot of hype and anticipation for obvious reasons. The rivalry of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, the Penguins vs. Capitals epic playoff series, and the fact that the Capitals were 9-0-1 in their last ten games at Consol Energy Center. In the end, however, this game wasn’t close.
The Penguins came out flying in the first minute and a half of the game, dominating puck possession and getting a few chances on Michal Neuvirth. But, Neuvirth stood tall early on and the Capitals scored the first goal 4:12 into the opening period. Mike Ribeiro scored off the rebound as Marc-Andre Fleury fell backwards onto the ice, causing his helmet to slide off. The referees determined there was no goalie interference on the play and instant replay confirmed the ruling.
From there, the Capitals continued to pepper Marc-Andre Fleury with shots and the Penguins looked well on their way to another flat performance against a struggling team at home.
After failing to register a shot on the power play in the first period, the Penguins were able to tie the game on a power play goal in the second period. Evgeni Malkin received a cross-ice pass from Sidney Crosby along the far boards, brought the puck closer to the slot before firing a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Neuvirth.
Like a house of cards, the Capitals collapsed.
Less than six minutes later, Pascal Dupuis scored to give the Penguins the lead. Dupuis and Crosby came down on a two on one rush and Dupuis’s shot beat Neuvirth five hole. After the goal, head coach Adam Oates decided to pull Neuvirth in favor of Braden Holtby.
It didn’t help.
James Neal scored a power play goal less than four minutes after Holtby was inserted into the game. Evgeni Malkin connected with Chris Kunitz on a stretch pass to the blue line. Kunitz moved towards the middle of the offensive zone while Neal snuck behind defensemen Roman Hamrlik and Tomas Kundratek. Kunitz’s perfect pass found Neal in front who backhanded the shot under the pads of a sprawling Braden Holtby.
Eleven seconds later, Matt Cooke scored his second goal of the season, executing the famous “Neal Play”. Brandon Sutter won the face off back to Cooke whose quick wrist shot beat Holtby on the stick side.
The Penguins added a fifth goal with less than a minute remaining in the second period. Evgeni Malkin’s shot was partially blocked by Jeff Schultz’s stick. But the puck fluttered towards the middle of the crease where Sidney Crosby batted it out of mid-air into a wide open cage.
By the end of the second, the Penguins scored five unanswered goals, three on the power play.
The Capitals inched closer with a power play goal of their own in the third period. Alex Ovechkin buried a hard wrister past Marc-Andre Fleury from the left slot. Ovechkin also had a breakaway chance but was denied by Fleury’s right shoulder. Moments later, Eric Fehr had a backhanded chance in front that was turned aside as well.
The Capitals continued to pressure the Penguins for the rest of the game but were unable to overcome the four goal deficit from the second period.
- The Penguins defeated the Capitals at home in regulation for the first time since February 18, 2007.
- The Penguins are 6 for their last 9 on the power play.
- Kris Letang was scratched after suffering a lower body injury during the morning skate.
Three Stars
- Evgeni Malkin
- Sidney Crosby
- James Neal
