Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena

Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby will renew their rivalry for the 70th time and honestly, you probably don’t even need to watch since the Capitals already had a premonition about tonight’s result.

The Pittsburgh Penguins enter tonight’s game tired after playing last night against the Carolina Hurricanes, falling 5-1. Evgeni Malkin leads the team with 16 points (4g, 12a) while Crosby ranks second with a very nice 15 (6g, 9a).

Jakub Vrana will return to the Capitals lineup with Sonny Milano out while Charlie Lindgren will get back in net.

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The Capitals-Hurricanes game is airing on ESPN+. Puck drop is shortly after 7:30 pm. Tonight marks the first of four meetings between the two teams.

Lines

 

 

1st Period

Puck is dropped.

First shift, Alex Ovechkin lands a hit along the boards to Sidney Crosby.

🚨 1-0 Pittsburgh Penguins. PGH Goal: Erik Karlsson (2). Assists: E. Malkin (13), S. Crosby (10). Time: 03:11.

As Malkin rags the puck behind the net, he sets up Karlsson wide open in the slot for the layup. Protas and Strome got caught puck watching while Karlsson was Ovechkin’s man.

Lars Eller to the box sending the Capitals to their first power play at 3:33 of the period.

Eight shot attempts and four shots on goal during that power play, but no goals.

🚨 2-0 Pittsburgh Penguins. PGH Goal: Michael Bunting (2). Assists: E. Karlsson (8). Time: 06:59.

Fehervary doesn’t lift Bunting’s stick and the former Leaf deflects the centering pass over Lindgren.

🚨 2-1 Pittsburgh Penguins. WSH Goal: Rasmus Sandin (2). Assists: C. McMichael (6). Time: 08:22.

Sandin skates the puck into a sagging part of the Penguins defense and picks the corner shortside for the goal. It’s Rasmus’s first goal in 34 games. PLD make the goal happen by causing chaos in front of the net and stick-checking Karlsson.

Ovi hits the outside of the post on the Capitals second power play of the night. The Capitals are 2 for their last 38 on the PP.

Rickard Rakell hits the post on a rush down the ice.

The Capitals did not have a shot attempt in the final five minutes of the first period.

Tom Wilson gets Wom Tilson’d with a big hit at the buzzer. I’m sure he’ll remember that.

At intermission: Playing with urgency, the Penguins are outshooting the Capitals 11 to 10 and out-attempting them 15 to 9 at five-on-five. Not a great period from the Capitals, who have been off since Wednesday. Alex Ovechkin had 3 shots and 5 shot attempts in the first period against the Penguins.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

🚨 2-2 tie. WSH Goal: Andrew Mangiapane (3). Assists: J. Vrana (3), H. Lapierre (2). Time: 06:04.

Vrana sets up Mangiapane on a two-on-one with a beautiful backhanded pass. That’s the sixth time the Penguins hae squandered a 2-0 lead this season.

Spencer Carbery to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan during the second period: “We weren’t very good in the first at all and we had a good talk during intermission. I like the start of this period.”

Strome shoots the puck through the crease. So close.

At intermission: The Capitals are outshooting the Penguins 28 to 22 and out-attempting them 42 to 41 at five-on-five.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

🚨 3-2 Pittsburgh Penguins. PGH Goal: Evgeni Malkin (5). Assists: B. Rust (2), K. Letang (4). Time: 10:28.

Bryan Rust sheds Connor McMichael down the wing and Evgeni Malkin pots a loose puck in front of the net.

Blomqvist with several huge saves on the Capitals late.

🚨 4-2 Pittsburgh Penguins. PGH ENG: Noel Acciari (2). Unassisted. Time: 19:37.

Ovechkin’s shift at 6-on-5 lasted 3:28. He slammed the door closed at the bench.

Penguins win 4-2. Capitals outshoot the Pens 34-32, but Pittsburgh out-attempted Washington 54 to 51 at five-on-five.