Photo: Patrick McDermott
Ovechkin vs. Crosby. Reality vs. 2009 storylines. That’s right, Caps vs. Pens from Verizon Center.
The game got off to an interesting start for the Capitals, taking three penalties before the 10 minute mark of the first period. But Pittsburgh’s power play sucks, so the Caps were fine. Both goalies — Braden Holtby and Marc-Andre Fleury — were great and the game was scoreless after one.
The Caps dominated the second period, but the Flower remained excellent. The game started to get chippy, but no one put the biscuit into the basket. Onto the third!
Early in the period, NHL First Star of the Week, Evengy Kuznetsov deflected a puck home to give the Capitals the lead. Then the Caps did that whole let’s screw up every time we score thing and allowed Beau Bennett to convert a stretch pass to even the score just 24 seconds later. A few minutes later, Phil Kessel used a nice passing play to give Pittsburgh the lead. Despite a valiant Capitals effort, the Pens held it. Nick Bonino sealed the deal. Pens beat Caps 3-1.
- So, about those penalties. It’s been a worrying trend over the last two games, a borderline Thing. Tonight, the Capitals received six minutes in penalties before we had even played 10 minutes. Some of the calls were weak, but it’s not new. The Caps took six penalties in that wild game against Edmonton. Luckily, the Pens PP is the worst in the league.
- Brooks Orpik, naturally, was the worst offender. He dangerously boarded Phil ‘Hot Dog’ Kessel early in the game, rightfully getting two minutes in the box for boarding. According to Actual Hockey Player Pat Holden, Orpik’s penalty differential (taken vs. drawn) is minus-6. No one else on the team is worse than minus-2.
- Orpik. Right. Bad at defense. He got burned on the Pens’ first goal of the night by Beau Bennett. In a game where the Capitals controlled play, Orpik and his defensive partner John Carlson were underwater most of the night. Don’t worry though, Orpik had seven hits.
- The third line also sucked. It should not exist.
- Bye bye TKO line? After going scoreless for most of the game, Caps head coach Barry Trotz broke up the Alex Ovechkin–Evgeny Kuznetsov–TJ Oshie line. Soon after, Kuzy scored Washington’s lone goal on the new second line.
- Tage (?) Chorney played, I guess. The third pairing barely got out there.
- Speaking of Kuznetsov, the reigning First Star of the Week now is now tied with Patrick Kane for fourth in the league in points. He’s good and you know that, but the Capitals lost so he’ll probably say life is meaningless when he speaks to reporters after this one.
- Peter Hassett attended his first game in person since the 12th century B.C. Please burn that suit.
NBCSN so no Joe B. Suit of the Night. Our dapper play-by-play man knows you, and those two “joe b sucks!!!!” guys on Twitter, miss him.
Thanks very much for the kind words. @Laughlin18 and I appreciate it more than you know. These games are tough to sit out. #CapitalsTalk
— Joe Beninati (@JoeBpXp) October 29, 2015
The Penguins are better than their record suggests. The Capitals cannot win every game. Though they played pretty well tonight, the Capitals lost. The (mini) streak is over. It wasn’t Washington’s best game, but they ran into a great goaltending performance. It’s not the end of the world.
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