PITTSBURGH — If the game were normal or not an emotionally exhausting battle, it wouldn’t be worthy of the Pittsburgh Penguins (9-4-2) vs. Washington Capitals (7-6-1) rivalry.
While networks may bill the game as Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby vs. Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin, the teams played a role, too. For the second consecutive game, the Penguins punted away their three-goal lead as Washington tied the game in the final three seconds of the second period.
And then the intensity for both teams exponentially increased before Bryan Rust deflected a beaut of a pass by Evgeni Malkin at 11:16 of the third, and Connor Dewar capped one of the best periods of his career with an empty net goal for a 5-3 Penguins win at PPG Paints Arena.
Rust erased some bad luck, but Dewar earned his empty-netter. He nearly scored on a shorthanded breakaway after undressing a Capitals defenseman at the blue line, but a possible slash denied him a shot. On the subsequent rush, Dewar cut to the middle of the slot, but hit the post.
Sidney Crosby. The Penguins’ 38-year-old all-time great quickly gave the Penguins a solid cushion on the scoreboard. In the latest collision of the Metro Division’s old lions, the Pittsburgh Penguins raced to a 3-0 lead over the Washington Capitals in the second period.
Rust hit a pair of posts, but Crosby scored a pair of power-play goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.
In fact, the Penguins’ power play was lethal in the first period. Rookie Ben Kindel threaded a pass from the goal line across the slot to Crosby in the right circle. Crosby (10) quickly snapped the pass into the net behind Washington goalie Charlie Lindgren at 2:22 of the first.
In the middle of the first period, Crosby struck again. Crosby (11) poked the rebound across the line before Lindgren could cover it at 11:32.
The Penguins continued their first-period domination, outshooting Washington 16-7 in the opening period and generally controlling play.
The Penguins didn’t falter until later in the second period. First, Penguins winger Anthony Mantha capitalized on Lindgren’s miscue, as the goalie fumbled a soft shot by Tommy Novak, and Mantha (7) quickly sneaked the rebound into the net at 2:08.
And then, the Penguins became charitable hosts.
Midway through the second period, Philip Tomasino casually played a rim-around in the defensive zone, tapping a pass toward the blue line that was quickly intercepted by Ovechkin, who immediately connected with uncovered Dylan Strome near the net. Strome (4) whistled a perfect wrister in the top corner over Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs’ glove for Washington’s first goal at 9:32.
At 14:17, the Penguins’ lax defense and flat-footed defending caught up with them when Ryan Leonard swept across the slot and beat Silovs with a backhander. However, the play was reviewed and ruled offside.
No matter, Washington scored their official second goal just 38 seconds later when defenseman Rasmus Sandin was alone at full speed. Sandin (1) beat Silovs in stride from the left circle at 14:55.
Just as they did in Toronto on Monday, the Penguins were coasting with a three-goal lead, and Washington scored again with just five seconds remaining in the second. Defenseman Ryan Graves left his coverage of Tom Wilson to pursue a rebound in the corner. However, Silovs stopped Strome’s put-back, but Wilson (9) was left alone for an easy rebound goal at 19:55.
Three-goal lead? What three-goal lead? The third period began as a tie game.
And then, Rust didn’t hit a post.
Rust (5) deflected a perfect pass from Malkin, who intercepted a Capitals’ clearing attempt and quickly launched a pass toward Rust at 11:16 of the third period.
No iron, all net. The Penguins avoided a calamitous collapse.
Silovs stopped 28 of 31 shots. Lindgren stopped 26 of 30 before being pulled for the extra attacker.
Penguins Notes
The Penguins scratched Harrison Brunicke. He has played nine NHL games, and the next one will enact his entry-level contract. The Penguins have not yet made a decision to keep him on the NHL roster or return him to juniors.
Defenseman Ryan Graves played his first NHL game of the season. The Penguins waived him at the end of training camp and recalled him Tuesday.
With his second goal of the first period, Crosby became the NHL’s leading goal scorer.
Tags: Alex Ovechkin Penguins game Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby Washington Capitals
Categorized: Penguins Postgame