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Whenever the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins play against one another, every shift for each team is hard-fought and requires every goal scored to be earned. In Tuesday night’s Reverse Retro showdown at Capital One Arena, Capitals forward Richard Panik put this on full display when he scored his second goal of the season and Conor Sheary continued a dominant showing against his former club in a productive second period for Washington.

With the Capitals down 1-1 against the Penguins entering the second period of play, the Capitals broke out of their own zone with just over four minutes gone in the frame. Veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara sent a pass up-ice that Panik corralled entering the offensive zone. Making a step in on Penguins defender Mike Matheson, Panik went to the crease and put the puck past Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry for his second goal of the 2020-21 season; in addition to Chara, who was credited with the primary assist on the play, defenseman John Carlson was also credited with a helper. Panik’s tally made him the 14th different Capital to score the team’s first goal in 2020-21.

Slovak to Slovak 🤌 pic.twitter.com/m7k3OIhdU0

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2021

The second was a productive frame for the home Capitals, with former Pittsburgh Penguins notching his second goal of the season against his former club at the 13:18 mark of the period, assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Right on the money 🎯 pic.twitter.com/uTVGarnlws

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2021

Sheary’s goal marked his sixth overall against the Pens in eight games since leaving the team.

Conor Sheary gives the Caps a 2-1 lead. He now has six goals in eight career games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, his former team.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 24, 2021

By Michael Fleetwood