Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 Wednesday night at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins now lead the series 3-1 with Game 5 set for Saturday night at Verizon Center. Puck drop is 7:15 pm.
Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Capitals. Marc-Andre Fleury got the start for the Penguins.
The Capitals went with 7 defensemen, with Karl Alzner playing in his second consecutive game.
Paul Carey, Brett Connolly, Taylor Chorney, and Chandler Stephenson were the healthy scratches.
Sidney Crosby missed the game due to a concussion he suffered in game 3.
QUICK HITS:
- The Capitals had two crucial offensive zone penalties in the first period.
- Trailing 2-0, the Caps scored two goals in 72 seconds to tie the game in the middle frame.
- Dmitry Orlov would score an own-goal that would prove to be the difference in Game 4.
- Nate Schmidt scored a goal, marking his first career playoff goal. Schmidt has recorded three points in eight games this postseason (1g, 2a) and four points (1g, 3a) in 18 career playoff games.
- Evgeny Kuznetsov (7:21) and Nate Schmidt (8:33) scored 1:12 apart in the second period, marking the fastest two goals Washington has scored in a playoff game since May 2, 2013, when Marcus Johansson (14:21) and Jason Chimera (15:07) scored 46 seconds apart in the second period against the NY Rangers.
FIRST PERIOD:
The Penguins would strike first on a break-away goal by Patric Hornqvist at 4:39 of the opening frame.
The period would end with the Penguins leading 1-0. The Capitals outshot the Penguins 12-9 for the first period. The Capitals were 35% percent at the dot for the opening frame. The Capitals would be called for two offensive zone penalties during the first period that went a long way at nullifying any consistent momentum.
SECOND PERIOD:
The Capitals began the period with 70 seconds of carry-over power play time, but would be unable to convert. The Penguins would stretch the lead to 2-0 on a fluke goal off of Dmitry Orlov’s skate at 3:51 of the second period. The goal was credited to Jake Guentzel.
Evgeny Kuznetsov would get the Capitals on the board with a goal at 7:21 of the middle frame.
Nate Schmidt would tie the game for the Capitals with a blast from the left circle at 8:33 of the middle frame.
The Penguins would regain the lead on a power play goal by Justin Schultz at 11:24 of the second period.
The period would end with the Penguins leading 3-2. The Capitals outshot the Penguins 17-5 for the middle frame and 29-14 through two periods of play.
THIRD PERIOD:
The Capitals continued to tilt the ice in their favor for a majority of the final frame, but could not dent the twine. The Penguins would defend and ice the puck for a good portion of the remaining period. The Penguins held on for the 3-2 win.
By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps
SCENES FROM PITTSBURGH:
Tonight’s Key Matchup powered by @alarmdotcom: Goaltenders Braden Holtby and Marc-Andre Fleury. #RocktheRed pic.twitter.com/BHJCSv4tVX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 3, 2017
Souvenir from @TJOshie77#CapsPenspic.twitter.com/r4syXvrG3g
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 3, 2017
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