Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2, Friday night at Capital One Arena. The loss drops the Capitals record to 16-5-6 (38 points) on the season.
After a mostly scoreless first frame, the Penguins struck late in the stanza for a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. They would add two more tallies in the first half of the middle frame to make it 3-0 after 40 minutes of play.
The Capitals would get on the scoreboard midway through the final frame with a goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov and get a 6-on-5 goal from Lars Eller to make it, 3-2. The Penguins would add an empty net goal to make it 4-2, the final.
STATS
STARTERS
Ilya Samsonov (11-1-0-1, 2.42 GAA, .916 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Tristan Jarry (11-5-0-4, 1.92 GAA, .934 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Penguins. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Scratches: Nic Dowd (COVID-19 protocol), Trevor van Riemsdyk (COVID-19 protocol), Garnet Hathaway (COVID-19 protocol), Nicklas Backstrom (hip ), Anthony Mantha (upper-body), Dennis Cholowski.
FIRST PERIOD
The Penguins opened the scoring late in the first frame. Danton Heinen (8) would pot the game’s first tally at 16:16 of the first period. John Marino (11) and Mike Matheson (7) had the helpers.
Danton Heinen is having a grand old time as a member of the @penguins. 🐧 pic.twitter.com/DDa2qfV560
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 11, 2021
The Penguins held a 1-0 lead at the end of the period. Caps led in shot attempts 16-15 in first 20 minutes. Pens led in scoring chances, 10-6, high-danger chances 4-2 and xGF .84 to .68.
SECOND PERIOD
The Penguins made it 2-0 with a goal from Brock McGinn (6) at 8:37 of the second period. The shot from the left side would go off the right skate of Evgeny Kuznetsov and beat Samsonov between the post and his pad. Mike Matheson (8) and Zach Aston-Reese (6) had the assists.
Brock McGinn taking the whole “toss the puck on net and good things will happen” thing to heart. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/VAVwwaGmiv
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 11, 2021
The Penguins would stretch their lead to 3-0 with a goal from Kasperi Kapanen (6) at 11:42 of the second period. Sidney Crosby (10) had the lone helper.
Kasperi Kapanen rips one home on the odd-man chance, potting the Crosby dish! 3-0 Pens!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/2VKanyfnP1
— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) December 11, 2021
The second period would conclude with the Penguins leading 3-0. Penguins led in shot attempts 19-17.
THIRD PERIOD
Martin Fehervary and Tom Wilson, both injured (upper body) in the second period, did not return to start the third period.
The Capitals would finally dent the twine midway through the final frame. Evgeny Kuznetsov beat Tristan Jarry to make it 3-1 at 7:33 of the third period. Alex Ovechin (22) and Daniel Sprong (4) had the helpers.
That was pretty 😍 pic.twitter.com/zJJVOBDGXu
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 11, 2021
The Capitals would pull the goalie and subsequently get a goal from Lars Eller (3) at 17:14 of the final frame, making it 3-2. Alex Ovechkin (23) and Conor Sheary (5) had the assists.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 11, 2021
The Penguins would add an empty net goal to make it 4-2, the final.
SHAVINGS
- Evgeny Kuznetsov scored to cut the Penguins lead to 3-1 with his ninth goal of the season. That marks Kuznetsov’s second goal in his last four games.
- Alex Ovechkin picked up the primary assist on Kuznetsov’s goal, his 22nd assist of the season, which leads the Capitals and is tied for the third-most in the NHL.
That’s two cheap shots on Fehervary in two games. Not a coincidence.