Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

It was a battle of Eastern Conference titans on Friday evening, as the Washington Capitals visited the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.  After an even game through 40 minutes, the Penguins pulled away in the third period and defeated the Capitals 7-4.  The Capitals will come back home to face the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 PM. 

STARTERS

Braden Holtby (26-9-2, 2.67 GAA, .916 SV%) got the start in goal for the Capitals.  Matt Murray (16-12-1, 2.90 GAA, .906 SV%) got the start in goal for the Penguins.  The line combinations for the Capitals:

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Stephenson-Eller-Connolly
Smith-Pelly-Beagle-Chiasson

Djoos-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Bowey

Scratches: The healthy scratches for this game were Jakub Vrana and Taylor Chorney.

FIRST PERIOD

-Phil Kessel strikes 2:11 into the frame.  It is Kessel’s 22nd goal of the season.

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Riley Sheahan with the pinpoint pass to Kessel pic.twitter.com/qNng0UfhIc

— Merry Blinnsmas (@NHLBlinn) February 3, 2018

-Carl Hagelin strikes 15:50 into the frame.  It is Hagelin’s 5th goal of the season.

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Carl Hagelin has been accused of robbery. Guilty as charged. 😎 pic.twitter.com/l0a6p3UMJU

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 3, 2018

-Alex Ovechkin scores 19:10 into the frame to cut the deficit to 2-1.  It is Ovechkin’s 31st goal of the season.

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Ovi makes it a one-goal deficit right before intermission #CapsPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/IJYHJ88ay1

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 3, 2018

-The period would end with the Penguins having the 2-1 advantage.  The Penguins outshot the Capitals 13-12 after 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD

-Patric Hornqvist scores 26 seconds into the frame on the powerplay.  It is Hornqvist’s 16th goal of the season.

-Dmitry Orlov scores 3:08 into the frame to cut the deficit to 3-2.  It is Orlov’s 7th goal of the season.

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🚀 @orlov_09 #CapsPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fmiwMUEWcG

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 3, 2018

-Evgeny Kuznetsov scores 11:57 into the frame to tie the game at 3.  It is Kuznetsov’s 14th goal of the season.

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14th on the year for @Kuzya92! #CapsPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/VyKbXaGCs9

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 3, 2018

-The shots were even at 12 in the 2nd frame.  The Penguins outshot the Capitals 25-24 through 2 periods.  The score is tied at 3 after 40 minutes.

THIRD PERIOD

-Evgeni Malkin opens the scoring 1:01 into the frame.  It is Malkin’s 27th goal of the season.

-Alex Ovechkin scores his 2nd goal of the game 49 seconds after Malkin’s tally.  It is his 32nd goal of the season.  The game is tied at 4.

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✌🚨 @ovi8 #CapsPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/uepWkn0XlP

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 3, 2018

-Bryan Rust scores 6:08 into the frame on the powerplay.  It is his 7th goal of the season.  The Penguins have a 5-4 lead.

-Phil Kessel scores his 2nd goal of the game.  It is his 23rd goal of the season.  The Penguins extend their lead to 6-4.

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Philthy Kessel pic.twitter.com/8wgoU3RHni

— Merry Blinnsmas (@NHLBlinn) February 3, 2018

-Evgeni Malkin scores his 2nd goal of the period 10 minutes into the frame.  The Penguins lead 7-4.

SHAVINGS

-The Capitals have now allowed the first goal in nine straight games.
-Christian Djoos picked up his 8th assist of the season on Alex Ovechkin’s first tally.
-Lars Eller recorded one of the two helpers on Dmitry Orlov’s goal.  It was Eller’s 4th point in the last 3 games.
-Evgeny Kuznetsov’s 14th goal of the season was his first goal in eight games.

SCENES FROM THE NOVA CAPS WATCH PARTY

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Let’s go Caps! #CapsPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/gHEfoSmCTY

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) February 3, 2018

By: George Foussekis