Caps Top Pens 3-2 in OT

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_7158.jpg’
courtesy of ‘bridgetds’

Whenever the Capitals take on the Penguins, the game is always an intense roller-coaster ride from start to finish. Last night’s contest in Pittsburgh was no different. The Caps squeaked out a 3-2 overtime win despite being dominated much of the game.

The good:

  • Forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Mike Knuble both posted their first goals of the season. Both players seem to come alive whenever this rivalry is in play. It seems this always-intense rivalry finally got Ovechkin’s motor running. The captain had one goal on three shots and collected five hits and a +1 on the evening.
  • Goalie Tomas Vokoun showed a much better side of himself, stopping 39 of 41 shots. He kept the Caps in the game in the first and third periods while the rest of the team lagged.
  • The Caps penalty kill shut down four of five Penguin power plays.
  • The lone power play for the Caps came in overtime. Dennis Wideman cracked in a nice Nicklas Backstrom pass from the slot. The goal is Wideman’s second of the year.

The bad:

  • The Caps were woefully outshot, 41-19. Their best period was the second, where they clearly dominated center ice and sustained great offensive pressure.
  • The team did not put in a full 60 minutes. A particularly poor third period allowed the Pens to maintain constant pressure and eventually score, forcing the Caps into overtime for the third straight game this season.
  • Troy Brouwer’s holding call with just under 5 minutes left in the third was a bad penalty near the defensive blue line and gave the Pens the chance they needed to tie the game up.
  • Jay Beagle came out on the wrong side of a brief fight with Arron Asham, going down after two quick blows from the Penguin forward. Beagle left the ice trailing blood from his face; his status is currently unknown.

The quote:
“Jay got popped a pretty good one,” said coach Bruce Boudreau of Beagle’s fight. “He was playing a really good game, and challenged a pretty tough customer. He got tagged a good one.”

Having lived in the DC area for ten years, Ben still loves to wander the city with his wife, shooting lots of photos and exploring all the latest exhibits and galleries. A certified hockey fanatic, he spends some time debating the Washington Capitals club with friends – but everyone knows of his three decade love affair with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A professional writer, gamer, photographer, and Lego enthusiast, Ben remains captivated by DC and doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon.

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4 thoughts on “Caps Top Pens 3-2 in OT”

  1. Beagle has a lot to learn in the NHL…namely, as a young, relatively inexperienced player, you do not fight a scrappy veteran like Arron Asham. He was just asking for trouble.

  2. @Ben Good to see you’ve been upgraded to “sort of rooting for the Washington Capitals.” Baby steps…

    If the Caps tried playing for all 3 periods, they may not need an extra one.

  3. 41-19 in shots … ouch! Caps allowed the Penguins to dictate the first and third periods. A couple of scrappy bounces got past Johnson to keep them in the game. Props to Wideman for jumping up and capitalizing in overtime.