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The Capitals fell to the Penguins 3-1 on Monday night at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The Penguins win gives Pittsburgh a 2-1 series lead heading into game 4 on Wednesday night. Puck-drop is set for 8:00 PM.
Starting lines for the Caps:
Offensive Lines:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Johansson-Kuznetsov-Williams
Chimera-Richards-Burakovsky
Winnik-Beagle-Wilson
Defensive Pairs:
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Carlson
Orlov-Chorney
Brooks Orpik served the first of his 3-game suspension. Stan Galiev, Michael Latta and Mike Weber were the healthy scratches for game 3. The goalie match-up for game 3, provided by @washcaps:
QUICK TAKES
The Capitals got off to a good start, registering the game’s first 4 shots on goal in the first 4 minutes of play, but the Pens would strike first, and again just a minute later, with the second goal actually going in off of the back of a Penguins player to make it 2-0. The Penguins would add another goal in the second period on a defensive zone turnover by Nate Schmidt. Alex Ovechkin would net one in the middle of the third period to close the gap to 3-1. Justin Williams would score with just under a minute remaining to close the gap to 3-2. The Caps outshot the Pens 49-23 for the game. Photos for the game can be found here:
After a solid start by the Caps, the Penguins would be the first to light the lamp at 6:37 into the first period on a tip-in by Patric Hornqvist.
The @Penguins set the tone for Game 3 with an early 1st period goal. Don’t Miss A Moment. #StanleyCup https://t.co/69b2JDTYaT
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) May 3, 2016
The Penguins would waste no time in adding another goal, this time on a pass off the back of Tom Kuhnhackl at 7:37.
Marcus Johansson would leave the game late in the first period on a hit by Kris Letang at 15:41.
The first period would end with the Pens leading 2-0. The Caps led 14-8 in shots on goal.
The Capitals continued with good offensive pressure to start the second period, leading 22-12 in shots on goal at the midway mark of the second period. The Pens would stretch their lead to 3-0 on a tap-in by Carl Hagelin at 14:27 of the middle frame. The goal followed an defensive zone turnover by Nate Schmidt.
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The second period would end with the Pens leading 3-0. The Caps led 28-14 in shots on goal through two periods of play.
The Capitals continued to play a good game in the third period, just not able to find the back of the net. Alex Ovechkin would finally get the Caps on the board on a top-shelf blast from the top of the left circle to make it 3-1 at the 8:02 mark of the final frame.
Ovechkin’s shot is just so good. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/abmANSn7VI
— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) May 3, 2016
The Capitals continued to buzz following Ovechkin’s goal. Justin Williams would notch the Caps second goal at 19:04 to close the gap to 3-2.
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The Caps furious rally would fall short, as the Penguins held on for the 3-2 win.
I cannot stand Letang. He whines after every hit he takes and then acts like his leg was chopped off after the small slash by Winnik. Secondly, he’s not an “elite” defenseman like many say he is. He is a very good player, but he is too injury-prone to fully be an elite player. He can put points on the board, other than that, he’s nothing but a whiner