After Tuesday night’s embarrassing loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Pittsburgh Penguins showed up to Washington pissed off. The Capitals hosted Pittsburgh in their home opener and their first game of the season Friday night, and in classic Ovi vs Crosby form, we were in for a treat.
The first period was typical for this Metropolitan Division rivalry. Back and forth, fast-paced, and entertaining. Both starting goalies Tristan Jarry for Pittsburgh, and Charlie Lindgren were on top of their games in the first. The Pens killed off a Capitals powerplay that saw Ovechkin in his customary spot on the right faceoff dot waiting for his patented one-timer that he didn’t have a chance to pull the trigger on. Meanwhile, Lindgren stopped a couple of high-quality chances from Pittsburgh one of which came from assistant captain Evgeni Malkin in the slot.
The second period was anything but low-scoring. Pittsburgh scored two goals in the first six minutes of the second. The first was from the big Russian Evgeni Malkin, and the second was on the powerplay from Pittsburgh’s longtime Captain, Sidney Crosby. Newly acquired defenseman and former Norris trophy winner Erik Karlsson got his first point as a Pen with the secondary assist on the Malkin goal. Karlsson can breathe easy getting that first one off his chest early in the year and Pittsburgh fans hope it opens the gates. Crosby added to Pittsburgh’s lead with his second of the game, and third goal for the Penguins in the second period on yet another powerplay. Late in the second Pittsburgh gave up an excellent opportunity as Washington Captain Alex Ovechkin had a breakaway that the Pen’s Tristan Jarry stopped easily.
After two periods of play, it looked like total domination from the Penguins in Washington. Pittsburgh did, however, have a penalty to kill off that rolled over into the third period. Washington couldn’t capitalize on it, however. Pittsburgh drew a penalty with about 38 seconds left on the penalty kill to even it up and put the Pens on the powerplay. Luckily for the Capitals, it didn’t come back to bite them as they managed to kill it off even after some great opportunities from Pittsburgh, notably from Reilly Smith who was stuffed after a great bounce.
After Washington killed off the penalty Charlie Lindgren made quality save, after quality save. Stopping a one-timer from Smith again, and blocking a couple of shots from Malkin that were headed for the back of the net. The biggest issue for Washington halfway through the third period was their inability to break out of the defensive zone effectively, and keeping possession of the puck in the offensive zone when they got that far. The only notable chances Washington had came on another Captial powerplay that the Pen’s penalty kill shut down for a third time.
After a great backcheck from Malkin, he sprung Reilly Smith on a partial breakaway who made up for the previous shots he was robbed on buried his first of the year, and scored his first goal as a Penguin. In true Pens and Caps fashion, the game ended with some fisticuffs. After the whistle was blown for the Penguin’s Noel Accari who took a puck to the ear, the Capitals resident tough guy cross-checked the Penguin’s Marcus Pettersson who didn’t take any crap and dropped the gloves with Wilson. While it surely wasn’t a rock-em-sock-em fight like you’d see in any 90’s or early 2000s old hockey highlight it was classified as a fight nonetheless.
The Pens bounced back in a big way from their home and season opener against Chicago and spoiled Washington’s in the process. With a 4-0 shutout Pittsburgh improves to 1-1-0 on the young season. Washington never truly threatened Pittsburgh outside of a good shot or two on the first powerplay. Jarry fought off all 19 shots he faced and Pittsburgh capitalized on the undisciplined play from the Caps. As is customary in any hockey game you award the “three stars of the game” after each game, and here are my three stars.
Third Star – Goalie Tristan Jarry. Jarry as previously mentioned stopped all 19 shots he faced, including a breakaway from Alex Ovechkin in a key moment of the game.
Second Star – Sidney Crosby. Crosby scored the second and third goal of the game. Both came on the powerplay. He was also extremely efficient in the faceoff dot going 15-21 and winning over 70% of the draws he took.
First Star – Evgeni Malkin. Geno scored the first goal and assisted on three additional goals. Malkin’s goal ended up being not only the first goal but the game-winner. He made his presence known in this game early with some great opportunities as well.