Photo: @Capitals
The Washington Capitals fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Capital One Arena. The Capitals would open the scoring with a goal from Lars Eller before the Penguins responded with two goals for a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. The Penguins would add another tally in the middle frame for a 3-1 lead at the end of two periods.The Capitals cut the lead to one with a power play goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov early in the final frame. The Penguins would add a late goal, but Lars Eller would answer with his second goal of the game to make it 4-3, and that would be the final.
GAME STATS
STARTERS
Ilya Samsonov (16-2-0-1, 2.12 GAA, .925 save percentage) got the start in goal for the Capitals. Matt Murray (15-6-04, 2.84 GAA, .900 save percentage) got the start in goal for the visiting Penguins.
#Caps‘ lines vs. PIT:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 77-Oshie
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 14-Panik
28-Leipsic, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
34-Siegenthaler, 33-GudasSamsonov vs. Murray. #CapsPens
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) February 2, 2020
Scratches: Travis Boyd.
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals would open the scoring with a goal from Lars Eller (12) at 10:38 of the first frame. Richard Panik (6) had the lone assist.
Top. Shelf. Eller. pic.twitter.com/6Qg4pgKcan
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2020
The Penguins would answer with a goal from Sam Lafferty (5) at 11:46 of the first frame.
What an absolutely beautiful shot by @SamLafferty18! pic.twitter.com/EKHFYIJV6b
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 2, 2020
The Penguins would take their first lead of the game just 54 seconds later with a goal from Patric Hornqvist (12) at 12:40 of the first frame.
Net-front tally, courtesy of Patric Hornqvist. pic.twitter.com/aNnHGwXSfM
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 2, 2020
The period would conclude with the Penguins leading 2-1. The Capitals led in shot attempts 15-11.
SECOND PERIOD
The Penguins would stretch the lead to 3-1 with a goal from Dominik Simone at 11:59 of the middle frame.
Three goals for the Penguins.
Eight different players with points.#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/31vnZuM6Ud— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 2, 2020
That would be all of the scoring for the middle frame.
The Capitals stepped-up the offensive pressure in the middle frame, leading in shot attempts 20-11.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would close the gap to 3-2 with a power play goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov (18) at the 6:00 mark of the final frame. Jakub Vrana (22) and Nick Jensen (4) had the helpers.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2020
The Penguins would restore their two-goal lead with a goal from Brandon Tanev at 17:27 of the final frame.
It’s almost like the puck just wanted to go into that net 😉 pic.twitter.com/sK1JWgOPHF
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 2, 2020
The Capitals would answer-back with a goal from Lars Eller at 17:42 of the third period, making it 4-3. Carl Hagelin (11) and Radko Gudas (13) had the helpers.
No quit in this team pic.twitter.com/2g082B2kBi
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2020
That would be the final.
SHAVINGS
- Lars Eller gave the Caps a 1-0 lead with his 12th goal this season. Eller is on pace to tie his career high in goals (18) this season, and set a new career high in points (on pace for 47 points).
- Dmitry Orlov played in his 500th career and his 399th consecutive game today. Only two other players, a former teammate of Orlov’s and a current teammate, have played in more consecutive games with one team within their first 500 games.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT
Before Kuzys goal watching him was PAINFUL !!!!! Shoot the d@#m puck. Willie was a wrecking ball on the ice. Can anyone hold the puck at the point?
They had quite a few chances in the final frame. Just couldn’t finish.
Why didn’t they show up until the 3rd? Eller was the only one fired up from the start. Lazy passes, turnovers galore, and poor choices on shot opportunities. Sigh….
Agree. Caps should have gone with Eller line more in the last two minutes.