The Washington Capitals traveled up north to play the mustard colored flightless birds in their alliteratively named arena. This intense rivalry is always good for a nice blood pressure raising, test of the heart, body, mind, and soul.
Jakub Vrana got the Caps on the board first late in the first period with a wicked wrist shot over the shoulder of Matt Murray. Jake The Snake got on the board once more in the second. Jake Guentzel got the Pens back in it and Sidney Crosby tied the game only moments later.
Sidney Crosby got his second to give the Pens their first lead. Phil Kessel extended the lead. John Carlson pulled the Caps close. Empty netter from one of their Florida dudes.
Pens beat Caps 5-3.
- I thought that was a fantastic road first period. A little shaky right after the early special teams work, but man the final ten or so minutes were legit. This game was moving at 500 miles per hour and I loved it.
- Imagine acquiring a human traffic cone in Erik Gudbranson because your GM is so hot and bothered by a singular player on a team’s roster that you only might just play in the playoffs.
- I have full faith in Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov abusing that match up in potential future situations. Those two could have scored more than a couple goals in this game, just got some bad puck luck. Ice in Pittsburgh was atrocious.
- TJ Oshie got literally kicked in the face by a skate and was luckily just fine. Y’all just bury me on the spot if I ever come that close to something like that.
Dibs Wario pic.twitter.com/xE0Zn1KXH3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 12, 2019
- The second period was going great until a two minute stretch in the middle of it, featuring an Evgeni Malkin dive, where the Pens scored three quick goals in succession. Not fun, bet the brainless Pittsburgh trolls in the comments of this post loved it. Other than that horrendous spell, thought the Caps were the better squad in the other 18 minutes.
- Carl Hagelin made his return to the town where he won two Stanley Cups. Cool. Now beat the piss out of them from now on.
- Tom Wilson was in Bam Bam mode from the get go. Dude loves this rivalry.
- Kuznetsov’s lazy turnover with full possession of the puck in his own defensive zone is just unacceptable. It completely turned this game on its head. This dude needs to wake up. I’m tired of beleaguering him every game for his defensive game because I love the dude, but man. Not good.
IT’S HOCKEY O’CLOCK! #ALLCAPS #CAPSpens #LETSGOCAPS #SaffyBeanGAMEFACE RETURNS TO THE LINEUP WATCH OUT penguins!! #CapsPets #CapsCanines #CapsBulldog #CapitalsBulldog pic.twitter.com/YRGZ0Z10of
— Ovie the Bulldog (@OvietheBulldog) March 12, 2019
- The third period was also tilted in the Caps favor but Matt Murray held them off the board and a ridiculously stupid bench minor gave the Pens a power play when they were reeling. Caps should have won this game. Didn’t finish their chances, three posts.
- Jakub Vrana was flying the entire night. Two more goals for the Czech youngster, giving him 21 on the season. I wonder if this is peak Vrana or if he somehow gets even better moving forward.
- I would jump over a fence for the Caps.
- Congrats to Ovi on point number 1,200!
- Geno Malkin took a baseball swing at a player earlier this season and now deliberately caught a puck in the crease instead of batting it. He wasn’t punished for either sufficiently. Maybe the Pirates could use someone of his caliber? He’s legit more unlikable to me than Sid.
#JoeBSuitOfTheNight #CapsPens pic.twitter.com/j09kyFA6sW
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 12, 2019
Next up for the Caps is another date with the Flyers in Philly. You may remember the Caps jumping out to a 5-0 lead on the Flyers last week before the game ended a lot closer at 5-3. Always a good one between those two teams.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Penguins
Headline photo: Joe Sargent
