Grading the Caps: Game 6 Performance

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images/Montreal Gazette

The Washington Capitals headed into the Steel City down 3-2 in the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Minus Karl Alzner for most of the game, the Capitals battled with only 5 defenseman in Game 6. After a valiant 3rd period rally, the Capitals just came up short, as they were defeated 4-3 in overtime. The Capitals are now going home after losing to the Penguins in 6 games.

Let’s hand out some letter grades for Game 6:

GRADE: A-

Analysis: The TKO line was pretty good against the Penguins in Game 6. Oshie netted the Capitals 1st goal of the game, and Ovechkin had 2 assists. Kuznetsov recorded 6 shots on net.

GRADE: C+

Analysis: Backstrom netted 2 assists in the game, but Johansson and Burakovsky did not register any points.

GRADE: C

Analysis: Williams played his best game in the series, as he recorded a goal and an assist. Chimera recorded 6 shots on net.

GRADE: D

Analysis: This line only generated 1 shot in the game.

GRADE: B

Analysis: Alzner was injured early in the game, and only played a little over 5 minutes. Niskanen recorded over 30 minutes of icetime and 6 hits.

GRADE: B-

Analysis: Orpik’s double minor for high-sticking was costly, as the Penguins would score two powerplay goals with that infraction. Carlson scored the Capitals third goal on the powerplay and played 33:12 in the game.

GRADE: D

Analysis: Dmitry Orlov netted 5 hits, but both were used sparingly, even with Karl Alzner’s injury in the game.

GRADE: B+

Analysis: The first goal Holtby gave up was a little soft. But he was stellar the rest of the way and he made 38 saves in the game.

SPECIAL TEAMS

GRADE: B

Analysis: The Capitals powerplay was 2/6 in the game, but the penalty kill cracked. The Capitals gave up 2 goals on the penalty kill.

ON-ICE REFEREES (ERIC FURLATT AND GORD DWYER)

GRADE: C

Analysis: For the most part, Furlatt and Dwyer let both teams play early in the game. Some slashes were missed, but the zebras made the appropriate calls later in the game as the Penguins got into penalty trouble.