📸: RMNB
Usually, a Capitals-Penguins game gets the juices going. But tonight, with the Caps the number one seed headed into the playoffs and the Pens missing the loffs entirely, this is a game 82 that everyone is just trying to get over with.
In response, the Capitals are going with a creative lineup. Head coach Spencer Carbery is giving the start in net to fourth-string goaltender Clay Stevenson and going with 13 forwards and 5 defensemen in an attempt to have a clean, no-injury game. The Penguins are suiting up Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson, but not many other names that will be super recognizable to fans.
Puck drop for Caps-Pens game is at 7:00 pm on ESPN. This marks Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby’s 73rd career game against each other. Ovi comes into tonight’s game with 896 goals, four shy of the 900-career goal milestone.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Clay Stevenson with a huge save on Sidney Crosby from point-blank range.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (26). Assists: T. Wilson (32). Time: 04:08.
Tom Wilson shoots to the far pad on a two-on-one and Connor McMichael scores off the rebound via a tap-in.
Ethen Frank shoots wide on a breakaway.
🚨 1-1 tie. PIT Goal: Bryan Rust (30). Assists: V. Koivunen (6), M. Grzelcyk (38). Time: 04:54.
Stevenson makes the save on a deflected shot, but Rust immediately pots the rebound past him short side.
I love this guy, but watching Dylan McIlrath try to stop a 2-on-1 with Crosby down the right wing is the thing of nightmares.
Malkin nearly scores on his own point blank chance but Stephenson challenges and stops it.
At intermission: The game’s tied 1-1. The Penguins outshot the Capitals 13 to 5 in what was a terrible period for Washington.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Andrew Mangiapane to the box for holding the box at 06:19.
🚨 2-1 Pittsburgh Penguins. PIT PPG: Bryan Rust (31). Assists: S. Crosby (58), V. Koivunen (7). Time: 07:19.
Rust finishes a pretty passing play at the far post.
Dylan McIlrath to the box for cross-checking at 07:56.
🚨 2-2 tie. WSH Goal: Dylan Strome (30). Unassisted. Time: 10:28.
Strome rips it from the right wing for his 30th goal – his first 30-goal season of his career.
Uh oh. The Penguins are challenging for offside.
Goal overturned due to Alex Ovechkin being offside by a full body length.
🚨 3-1 Pittsburgh Penguins. PIT Goal: Sidney Crosby (33). Assists: P. Tomasino (13), C. Dewar (6). Time: 11:56.
Crosby with a layup after Tomasino dangles in the middle of the ice.
Penguins coming in waves now. A shame Stevenson is having to face this in his first NHL game.
Sidney Crosby to the box for hooking Nic Dowd at 15:51. How’d fun would it be if Ovi scored here?
🚨 3-2 Pittsburgh Penguins. WSH PPG: Alex Ovechkin (44). Assists: D. Strome (53), P. Dubois (46). Time: 16:56.
Alex Ovechkin career goal no. 897. A one-timer from the top of the left circle.
The ref goes down hard. Looked like a baby deer on ice for a second there.
At intermission: The Penguins lead 3-2 after having what felt like a bazillion slot shots. Penguins lead in shots 24 to 19.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
The Penguins’ Ville Koivunen knocks in his first NHL goal crashing the net at 4:14, but it looks like he swiped that in with his hand. Goal is under review.
No goal.
🚨 4-2 Pittsburgh Penguins. PIT Goal: Danton Heinen (9). Unassisted. Time: 08:46.
An Alex Ovechkin turnover on a power play leads to a Heinen scoring on a breakaway.
FIFTEEN SECONDS LATER…
🚨 5-2 Pittsburgh Penguins. PIT Ggoal: Philip Tomasino (11). Assists: R. Rakell (35), M. Grzelcyk (39). Time: 09:01.
Tomasino scores on a makeshift 3-on-1 break, dangling around Alex Alexeyev in the middle of the ice.
Penguins win 5-2. They outshot the Capitals 38 to 20. Stevenson was great in his debut, but the Capitals just did not have it tonight.
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