Capitals' Holtby stops this shot, but Penguins put game out of reach - Pittsburgh, PA February 7, 2013.
Photo © Keith Srakocic / AP Photo.
Photo © Keith Srakocic / AP Photo.
Washington Capitals 2 Vs Pittsburgh Penguins 5 = Road Game Loss
The Washington Capitals continued to struggle while visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday - February 7, 2013. They began the game looking very good, but ended up just as bad as ever.
Michal Neuvirth was the starting netminder for Washington, and made some excellent saves in the first period. His mates skated well, and did a lot of things right. The Caps closed off passing and shooting lanes, stayed focused, and defended well overall. They got on the scoreboard first, with a goal by center Mike Ribeiro (4), four minutes into the game. Assisting on the goal, were defenseman Tomas Kundratek (2) and forward Alex Ovechkin (4).
Pittsburgh wanted goaltender interference called, claiming that Wojtek Wolski (LW) knocked Marc-Andre Fleury down, but the fall was actually an over-embellished dive by the goaltender. It was his own man, Brooks Orpick, who knocked his helmet off with the toe end of his stick. Orpick did this by putting his stick between Wolski's legs, and forcibly jamming it so high up into Wojtek's nut-sack that it clipped Fleury's helmet. No call was made either way, and the goal counted.
The second period has not treated Washington very well this season, and it was no different Thursday night. Penguins center Evgeni Malkin scored a power-play goal about seven minutes in, with a snap shot. Neuvirth couldn't have been expected to stop that one. Six minutes later however, when Pascal Dupuis (RW) bounced one by him while he leaned the other way looking for a pass, he probably should've had that one.
Braden Holtby replaced Michal between the pipes, and made a couple nice saves. Holtby's apparent sharpness only lasted a few minutes. It took only 11 seconds for the Penguins to score goals number three and four. Sidney Crosby (C) added a fifth goal for Pittsburgh less than three minutes after that, a third Pens PPG.
Ovechkin added the only power-play goal for the Capitals toward the middle of the third period. Mike Ribeiro (C) and Mike Green (D) provided the helpers. Washington started playing better in the third, but just didn't have it in them to come back from being so far down.
The Capitals have got to play more disciplined, even if the timing and quantity of the penalties being called is suspect. The only way to do well is to stay focused, and do your best for the whole 60 minutes. Make the other team beat you. Don't beat yourself.
Caps Postgame Locker Room 02/07/13: Caps players Alex Ovechkin, Karl Alzner, Troy Brouwer, Mike Ribeiro and Michal Neuvirth address the media after a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Adam Oates Postgame 02/07/13: Caps head coach Adam Oates addresses the media after a 5-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
No comments:
Post a Comment