Happy New Year’s, folks. Welcome to our first live blog of 2024.
The Capitals, who have lost their four-straight games, will try to get back to their winning ways against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the 67th chapter of the Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby rivalry.
Tonight’s game is on ESPN+. Puck drop is a little after 7:30 pm.
Lines
Alex Alexeyev, who seemingly may never play again, and TVR are the scratches.
Lineys!#CapsPens | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/i0eldbY2vb
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 3, 2024
Tunnel weirdness
It's the remix#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/oQ4EkPLgrj
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 3, 2024
1st Period
Darcy Kuemper will oppose Tristan Jarry in net. Kuemper has given up 10 goals in his last two games! Protas-McMichael-Mantha and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. Tom Wilson beats Tristan Jarry far side with a tuff wrister down the right wing. The goal came 55 seconds into the game!
Noted goal-scorer continues his goal-scoring ways pic.twitter.com/QSqnE8lHB8
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 3, 2024
🚨 2-0 Capitals. Beck Malenstyn’s centering pass gets deflected into the net by a Penguins defender.
The Penguins only have one shot 12 minutes in. I will update this if it continues.
🚨 3-0 Capitals. Fehervary scores after an unbelievable screen in front by Matthew Phillips.
GOALIE CHANGE: Jarry is being pulled for Nedeljkovic with 6:58 remaining in the period. Penguins time out. Now Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is screaming at his team at the bench.
Penguins goal by Chad Ruhwedel disallowed for Sidney Crosby being offside before zone entry.
🚨 4-0 Capitals. With 42 seconds remaining in the period, Alex Ovechkin scores career goal number 830 via a power play.
🚨 4-1 Capitals. Rickard Rakell answers with the Pens with four seconds remaining.
The Penguins were sleepy and completely overwhelmed by the Capitals early in this game, but the Penguins were starting to fire as the stanza closed.
The Capitals outshot the Pens 11-8 in the period but were out-attempted 20-17 at five-on-five by the Pens.
2nd Period
🚨 4-2 Capitals. Sidney Crosby scores on a backdoor play via a Penguins power play for career goal number 571. That’s also his 1,539th point tying him with Joe Thornton for 12th on the NHL’s all-time points list.
🚨 4-3 Capitals. Jake Guentzel narrows the Capitals’ lead to one. Crosby with the primary assist.
Capitals looked like they’re just hanging on for dear life to this game.
The Penguins are outshooting the Capitals 22-19 and out-attempting them 37-32 in five-on-five shot attempts.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Tom Wilson and Sidney Crosby nearly come to blows on a Penguins power play. Sid thought better of it. Now Evgeni Malkin is getting in the mix.
Capitals hold on to win 4-3. Their four-game losing streak is kaput.
The Penguins outshot the Capitals 35-22 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 53-40. Credit to Darcy Kuemper for making just enough saves.
Comment on the game below along with us!
