Capitals Vs Penguins February 7, 2013 Game Review

Capitals' Holtby stops this shot, but Penguins put game out of reach - Pittsburgh, PA February 7, 2013.
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.

Game Highlights: Washington Capitals At Pittsburgh Penguins February 7, 2013

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.

Capitals Vs Penguins 05/06/2009 EC Semifinal Game 3 Review

Simeon Varlamov keeps eyes on puck May 6, 2009.
Photo by Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo.

Capitals 2 - Penguins 3 OT

The Washington Capitals are still ahead in their Eastern Conference Semifinal playoff series versus the Pittsburgh Penguins by two games to one. However, their overtime loss in Game 3 last night was particularly frustrating.

Alex Ovechkin scored the first goal, getting the Capitals on the board just 1:23 into the game. The scoring opportunity came when Penguins' goalie Marc-Andre Fleury lost his grip on his stick while trying to play a puck sent wide of the net by Caps defenseman Mike Green. The puck bounced off the end wall and went to the slot in front of the net, just in time for Ovechkin to bury it in the net. Under normal circumstances, this would be a good sign of the game's outcome, as first strike usually comes from the eventual game winner. All three games in this series however, have gone the other way. Both teams were playing decent enough hockey during the first, but Washington seemed to be doing a little better.

In the second period, everything changed. It was like the Capitals were repelling the puck, while the Penguins all of a sudden started playing much better and skated much faster. Pittsburgh was able to make one of their scoring chances count, when Ruslan Fedotenko got a goal halfway through the period. It also became clear that the referees were under orders to help Pittsburgh whenever possible, and penalties on the Caps were to be the main assault weapon.

The officials continued to rape the Capitals in the third period. Including overtime, they ended up with seven penalties, compared to only two for Pittsburgh. Washington was lucky to have a really hot goalie protecting their cage in this game. The Pens second goal came from Evgeni Malkin, while on one of their many power plays, but not until 15:01 in the third. About three minutes later, Nicklas Backstrom scored while on the second and last power play chance that Washington had in this game. After Ovechkin tried to bang in a rebound from a shot by Alexander Semin, Backstrom banked his shot off of Fleury's ass with just under two minutes left in regulation. Believe me when I say this Caps fan made some noise at that point.

The good guys had more quality scoring chances the rest of the way, but at 11:23 in overtime, Kris Letang sent a slapper past Varlamov for the winner. Game 3 went to the baddies.

Varly kept his team in the game with many brilliant saves. The score could have been much worse, but you only need one more than your opponent to win the game. Pittsburgh was the team that ended up with that one important goal. They outplayed the Caps, and so they deserved it. Although the team would've liked to have swept the Pens, their fans will be happy to have a chance to see them win the series at home in Game 5. To keep that as a possibility, they are going to have to win the next one in Pittsburgh tomorrow night. The Penguins would have to win the next three, four straight overall, to take the series at their home.

Capitals Vs Penguins 10/16/2008 Review

Michael Nylander's goal ties score in Period 3.

Capitals 4 - Penguins 3

The Washington Capitals started off Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins a little shaky once again, a disturbing trend for the season so far. However, the come from behind finish was almost as good as it gets.

The Capitals looked like a completely different team from that which had so completely dominated their opponent in the previous game. The Penguins had apparently gotten wind of the spanking Washington had put on the Vancouver Canucks, and decided to use a trap type defense to keep from getting run over in their own building. This seemed to take the Caps by surprise, as Pittsburgh built a three goal lead over them within the first 22 minutes of play.

John Erskine causes Sidney Crosby to turn over puck.

As the game went along, goaltender Jose Theodore and the Capitals steadied themselves and changed the tempo of the game to their preferred faster pace. Tomas Fleischmann softly backhanded a deflected Brooks Laich attempt into the open side of the Pens' net part way through the second period. Then it was fight time. Because of a busted lip sustained in his bout with Paul Bissonnette, Washington forward Matt Bradley ended up spending his five minute major getting stitched up, but he did return later. A few minutes after the fight, Pittsburgh's Russian forward Evgeni Malkin was awarded a two minute minor penalty for boarding. Everyone who saw the dirty high stick ramming from behind he gave Alexander Semin, knows it should've been a five minute major. But these events, along with Sidney Crosby showing what a prat he is by bumping Semin from behind at the side wall a few minutes later, seemed to energize Washington.

The Capitals took control of the game in the third period. Semin potted his fourth goal of the season early on. Exactly halfway through the third, Michael Nylander evened the score at 3-3 on a play started by John Erskine causing Crosby to turn over the puck in the Caps end. The final blow by Washington wasn't allowed an on ice celebration. Boyd Gordon's game winning goal was only confirmed upon video review while play continued on. The puck went in and back out of the net so fast, the referees didn't quite catch it. During the next stoppage in play, the goal was awarded.

Boyd Gordon's Game Winning 3rd Period Goal.

Marc-Andre Fleury played well in Pittsburgh's net, but his team wasn't ready for the surge from Washington. Evgeni Malkin wasn't ready for all those massive hits from the best forward in the NHL, Alex Ovechkin. It was nice to get a win in a building that hasn't been very kind to the Cap's in many a visit. After the final seconds ran off the clock, Sydney Crosby congratulated Ovechkin with a bump from behind and a few unkind words. No doubt, when the Capitals got back home, they all took long hot showers in order to wash off the filth of Pittsburgh. Perhaps they use a special decontamination chamber. Fantastic win in any case.

All Photos - Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press