Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals entered Game 4 down 2-1 in the series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It was another tight battle between the Capitals and Penguins in Game 4. Without defenseman Kris Letang, the Penguins were still able to pull out a 3-2 overtime victory. The Capitals are now facing elimination as they enter Game 5 on Saturday.
Let’s hand out some letter grades for the Capitals performance in Game 4.
GRADE: A-
Analysis: This line was all over the ice tonight. Oshie and Ovechkin had several glorious chances throughout the game. Backstrom actually shot the puck some too.
GRADE: D
Analysis: This line did not do much tonight. Williams looks like he may be playing hurt, and Kuznetsov is not shooting the puck much.
GRADE: D
Analysis: The Capitals once again did not get much from this line. They recorded 3 shots on goal and had 0 points.
GRADE: B+
Analysis: Beagle scored the Caps 1st goal of the night on a beautiful backhand play. Beagle and Winnik also had another spectacular night on the Capitals penalty kill.
GRADE: C
Analysis: Niskanen was on the ice for 2 Penguins goals tonight. Alzner was on the ice for one Penguins goal.
GRADE: C
Analysis: Dmitry Orlov had another miserable game. He was very indecisive with the puck and he had a horrible turnover which led to the Penguins first goal. John Carlson scored the tying goal
GRADE: C-
Analysis: Weber and Chorney did not have any horrible moments tonight. But both guys were used sparingly. On the last Hornqvist game-winning goal, Weber had a bad giveaway as he tried to make a play with the puck to get it out of the zone.
GRADE: A+
Analysis: None of the goals were Holtby’s fault. Holtby made several big stops early in the 2nd period, when the Penguins had a lot of pressure in the game. Holtby made 30 saves in Game 4.
SPECIAL TEAMS
GRADE: C
Analysis: The Capitals penalty kill delivered as they killed 4 Penguins powerplays. The Capitals powerplay did not strike and went 0/2.
ON-ICE REFEREES (KELLY SUTHERLAND AND JEAN HEBERT)
GRADE: D-
Analysis: Sutherland and Hebert let both teams play most of the night. Evgeni Malkin struck Dan Winnik in the head during the 2nd period. There was no penalty called on the play. It is amazing that these referees missed such a blatant infraction.
Malkin on Winnik. No call. pic.twitter.com/kO6OdwkDEF
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016
By: George Foussekis
These are a joke, right?
Backstrom had several horrible plays/turnovers, was caught flat-footed on the second goal, and Ovi only played OK. They should get a B-. While Kuzy once again failed to show up with anything meaningful, his line (with Williams) were the only line that consistently generated zone time and pressure. It was their forecheck that led to the Carlson Goal. B+. And Holtby got beat 5-hole on all three goals — he’s begun moving more than he usually does, although got left hung to dry on the last goal. B-.