Capitals 5, Penguins 2 - 2-22-09
PREGAME
Greetings from our living room. Nice to see WPXI is up-to-date with its NHL logos:
-We wonder if Peter Bondra will play today.
-Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start today despite playing less than 24 hours ago. Tough order for anyone to go in back-to-back games against the Flyers and Capitals.
-Jose Theodore is Washington's starter.
-Bill Thomas and Kris Letang are the Penguins' scratches.
-Staffan Kronwall is the Capitals' scratch.
-Mike Milbury and Pierre McGuire have a real unstaged argument. We think:
FIRST PERIOD
18:18: Milan Jurcina levels Matt Cooke along the boards
17:51: Jurcina's hitting anything in white. He drops Malkin with a nice shoulder check.
16:44: Tom Poti whips a puck into the slot. Donald Brashear is kind of in the way and just deflects it on net. Fleury hangs on for a save.
16:05: Boyd Gordon is nabbed for tripping Pascal Dupuis.
15:57: Petr Sykora cranks a shot on net from the right wing. Theodore eats it up.
15:14: Crosby gets booed for touching the puck. He's a popular fellow along this I-95 corridor.
14:26: Ryan Whitney carries the puck through the neutral zone and has it stolen by Brooks Laich. Laich carries it up ice. Whitney sticks his arm out and grabs a hold of Laich. That's two minutes. When play is halted a scrum develops between Crosby, Ruslan Fedotenko and some Capitals players. You have to wonder if Letang would've done that. McGuire makes a good point mentioning Whitney had been on the ice for roughly 1:40 at that point. Four-on-four for 21 seconds.
14:05: Gordon's penalty expires. Washington will have a power play for 1:39.
13:53: Dan Bylsma is acknowledged for looking like that guy from "Heroes." We think:
13:41: Mike Green blasts a slapper wide of the net.
13:19: Ovechkin fires a slapper from the left wing. Fleury makes the save.
13:07: Sergei Fedorov moves a puck to Nicklas Backstrom in the slot. Backstrom then distributes it to Ovechkin who fires it by a helpless Fleury. Really pretty play. Backstrom and Fedorov get assists. Capitals 1-0.
12:11: Sergei Gonchar fires a one-timer from the right point. It hits off the backboards. Theodore covers the rebound.
11:00: Nylander pushes a loose puck in the slot wide.
10:48: Malkin throws a puck on net from a bad angle. Theodore makes the save but gives up a rebound. Jordan Staal is there but can't punch it on net.
9:48: Just as Laich punches a shot on net, Semin is called for tripping.
9:37: Gonchar blasts a slapper from the right point. It's off the mark.
9:26: Whitney whips a wrister on net which is blocked.
8:41: Tomas Fleischman comes in and fires a slapper over the Penguins' net.
8:19: Mark Eaton's slapper gets deflected wide.
8:07: Staal is called for tripping. Four-on-four for 19 seconds.
7:52: Eaton blasts a slapper on net from the right point. Theodore makes the save but kicks out a bad rebound. Maxime Talbot's right there to punch it in. Bad goal for Theodore to give up. Eaton and Orpik get assists. Who would ever think those three would combine for a goal? A pretty loud cheer for the road team can be heard. Nice to see those Washington fans are still loyal. Capitals 1, Penguins 1.
7:23: Fleury denies an Ovechkin shot.
6:58: Washington gets the lead right back. The puck deflects off Crosby's skates and deflects intot he slot. Semin gets it, controls it for about 23 minutes. He moves to his right on his forehand and rips it by a prone Fleury. Where was the defense on that? Semin had all day to chose his shot. Backstrom and Green get assists. Capitals 2-1.
5:01: Talbot hits Matt Bradley from behind along the boards. That's two minutes. Can't put the Capitals on the power play this much. The theme from "Law and Order" is played.
4:02: Crosby steals a puck off Backstrom at the right point. He chips it into the neutral zone, chases it down and throws a wrister on net. Theodore hangs on for a save. Ovechkin gives Crosby a bump after the shot. Crosby gives a slight shove. Nothing doing.
3:17: Ovechkin dishes a pass into the slot to... no one in particular.
3:01: Talbot's penalty is killed. Solid job by the Penguins that two minutes.
2:24: Tyler Kennedy whips a wrister on net from the corner. Theodore nabs it. The Ask.com question of the day is who is the youngest captain in NHL history? Seriously? Why now ask what the first letter in the word "hockey?"
2:19: Gonchar gets a wrister on net through traffic. Theodore makes the save.
1:18: Big chance for the Penguins here as Brashear is called for hooking.
0:10: As Gonchar carries the puck up ice, he's greeted with "Whoops!" from his former fans.
0:00: End of period. Capitals 2, Penguins 1.
FIRST INTERMISSION
-A few too many mistakes there for the Penguins. Especially in terms of penalties. You can't put that power play on the ice that often.
-The Penguins have an 11-10 edge in shots.
-Who else but Ovechkin would lead the game in shots with four?
-Kennedy, Gonchar and Crosby each lead the Penguins with two shots.
-Faceoffs are even 8-8.
-Crosby is 5-for-7 (71 percent).
-Fedorov is 3-for-4 (75 percent).
-Crosby leads the game with 9:10 of ice time.
-Gonchar is right behind him with 9:02.
-Poti leads Washington with 8:15.
-Poti leads the game with two blocked shots.
-Heads up on NBC's behalf for acknowledging the 29th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice.
-The Penguins will have 42 second of power play time on fresh ice.
SECOND PERIOD
19:18: Brashear's penalty is killed. The Penguins are just having trouble getting it into the offensive zone.
19:04: Staal looses the puck at the blue line, after a bad pass by Whitney. Semin steals it off Staal and dishes it to Fedorov in the slot. Fedorov cranks a slapper by Fleury on the stick side. Semin gets the only assist. Whitney could make a case for one too. Capitals 3-1.
17:56: John Erskine drops Dupuis while chasing the puck. That's two minutes for delay of game.
17:04: Laich whips a wrister wide.
16:51: The Capitals are called for too many men on the ice. The Penguins will have a five-on-three for 55 seconds. This is a must score.
16:41: Malkin hammers a one-timer on net. It hits a body in front.
16:33: Sykora snaps a wrister on net. Theodore eats it up.
16:19: Godron clears a puck down ice.
15:46: This power play is just a joke sometimes. As Eskine's penalty expires. The puck clears the zone. Sykora is a little too casual in chasing it down. Erskine comes out of the box and is off on on a breakaway. Fortunately for the Penguins it's John Erskine as his "speed" really limits him. A few Penguins catch up to him, he turns and dishes it to Laich trailing. Laich puts a shot on net which Fleury saves.
15:14: This power play is awesome!!!!! Gonchar gets a pass on the left wing, coasts in and blasts a slapper by Theodore on the far side. That was a 1980s goal there. Crosby and Malkin get assists. "Home" fans cheer. Capitals 3-2.
15:03: Fedorov fires a slapper just inside the Penguins' blue line. Scuderi is there to get a piece of it.
14:24: Semin tries to fight off a check by Staal. Semin's feet magically get kicked out from underneath him. Staal may have interfered with him there, but Semin tried to buy one there. Either way, no call is made
13:52: Eaton makes a weak pass attempt from the corner. Ovechkin jumps on it and steals the puck. He snaps a wrister on net. Fleury hangs on for the save. Why is Letang benched again?
13:38: The obligatory "Ed Olczyk used to coach the Penguins" is delivered by Pierre McGuire.
12:59: Sykora steals a puck off Ovechkin and cranks a slapper from the left wing. Theodore punches it away.
12:37: Ovechkin sweeps by Orpik one-on-one with a swift move. He shoots backhand but Fleury makes the save. Orpik did everything perfectly there and still got beat.
11:32: Mike Green pushes a shot on net. Fleury kicks it out with his right leg.
10:30: Cooke tries to hit Jurcina along the boards. Jurcina drops him for his trouble.
9:42: Gill drops Nylander with a nice hit along the boards.
9:28: Poti puts a shot off the boards.
8:37: Chris Minard appears to get away with a bit of a trip on Fedorov along the boards.
7:48: As a shot by Green gets deflected over the net. Fleishman gets away with a bit of a trip on Fleury in the slot.
7:38: Theodore knocks down a shot by Cooke.
7:04: Ovechkin whips a nice wrister on net. Fleury makes the save but gives up a tough rebound. It kicks out to the left wing. Shaone Morrisonn steps put and cranks it by Fleury on the stick side. Ovechkin and Fehr get assist. Capitals 4-2.
6:39: Fleury's having a tough time. The puck gets deflected behind the net off a shot. Laich chase it down and throws it at the net. It squeezes through Fleury and into the cage. Ugh. Poti and Morrisonn get assists. Fleury is pulled for Mathieu Garon. It's the right move. Capitals 5-2.
6:22: Gonchar tries to hit Ovechkin. Ovechkin just drops him with a fantastic shoulder check.
5:40: Ovechkin tries to chip a backhander over Garon. It misses the net. While are they playing music during play? Is this an NBA game?
4:36: Bradley whips a shot on net. It hits a body in front.
3:08: David Steckel put a wrster on net. Garon hangs on for a save.
3:04: Garon apparenlty makes a save off a shot. We couldn't see it because NBC was too busy showing a Verizon ad.
2:18: Green chips a shot from the right point. Garon knocks it away.
2:00: Orpik and Semin are each called for slashing. Four-on-four.
1:24: Malkin cranks a one-timer that misses the mark.
0:56: Ovechkin snaps a wrister wide.
0:39: Steckel is denied in tight by Garon.
0:00: End of period. Orpik's and Semin's penaltyies expires. Capitals 5, Penguins 2.
SECOND INTERMISSION
-We have to question the Penguins' approach today. We appreciate they want to be aggresive but they simply don't have the depth to run and gun with the Capitals. We're not saying the Penguins go all Minnesota Wild and play a trap, but they simply don't have the horses to go up and down the ice all day with the Capitals.
-But given that they are trying to skate with Washington, would Kris Letang not be a better option than Gill or Eaton?
-Fleury needed to be pulled. He's has to be gassed after playing so many games without rest.
-Washington leads in shots, 26-21.
-Ovechkin "shockingly" leads the game with eight shots.
-Gonchar leads the Penguins with four.
-Washington has a 19-18 lead in faceoffs (51 percent).
-Fedorov is 6-for-9 (63 percent).
-Crosby is 10-for-19 (53 percent).
-Crosby and Gonchar each lead the game with 18:10 of ice time.
-Miroslav Satan has all of 7:50 of ice time.
-Poti leads the Capitals with 15:42.
-Poti leads the game with four blocked shots.
-Cooke leads the Penguins with two.
THIRD PERIOD
19:35: Gonchar fires a slapper from the right point that's deflected just wide.
19:04: Semin puts a shot on net. Garon keeps it out.
18:56: Ovechkin deflects a shot high.
18:20: Kennedy throws a wrister on net from the right wing. Theodore kicks it out.
17:11: Garon covers a puck that slides into the crease.
17:00: Sykora snaps a rising wrister. Theodore makes the save and gloves the rebound that popped into the air.
16:47: A shot by Bradley from the slot is wide.
16:36: Orpik crunches Brashear behind the net. Brashear gets up and gives Orpik the business.
16:17: Poti takes a really stupid penalty as he elbows Orpik in the head in front of the benches. A scrum develops Brashear gives Malkin a shove.
16:10: Theodore fights off a shot by Gonchar from the right point.
15:49: Theodore robs Whitney on the "Whitney Play." Big save there.
15:03: Malkin re-directs a puck on net. Theodore lunges out to cover it as a car wreck ensues. Laich dropped Crosby from behind. Crosby goes to the bench yelling at Laich.
14:28: Somewhow, the Penguins ice the puck on the power play. In all fairness, the jay-vee power play is on.
14:17: Poti's penalty is killed. The main power play unit had some things going. Theodore was just pretty strong.
13:02: Fedorov is called for holding. This will be the Penguins' seventh power play of the day. They need a goal here if they have any hope of coming back.
12:42: Crosby pushes a shot just wide of the cage.
11:57: Crosby dishes a feed into the slot for... Semin. Crosby's not had a great game today.
11:45: Satan fires a shot well off the mark.
11:02: As Fedorov's penalty expires, Dupuis throws a shot on net from the left wing. Theodore gloves it easily. Almost nothing going on for the the Penguins there.
10:51: Nylander has a potential breakaway but Scuderi lunges to break it up. Great play by Scuderi.
9:45: Cooke separates Jurcina from his stick behind the Capitals' net with a nice check.
9:33: Eaton fires a half slapper from the right point. Theodore easily gloves it.
8:43: Garon knocks down a puck chipped on net from the neutral zone.
8:13: Green blasts a slapper from outside the blue line. Garon gloves it and distributes the puck to a teammate.
7:09: Jurcina fires a slapper from the right point wide of the cage.
6:31: Green cranks a slapper that deflects up and catches Whitney in the face. Yeouch... It struck him in the right cheek. He falls to the ice and is stunned for a moment. He gets up a little dazed and goes to his bench.
5:44: Staal has a chance in tight but can't beat Theodore.
5:30: Semin gets behind the defense and rips a wrister that's off the mark.
5:15: Eaton whips a shot on net just wide. Is it us or has Eaton has a ton of shot attempt today.
5:07: Whitney returns to the ice and is dropped by Brashear. Godard comes in and gives Brashear the business. Brashear invites him to drop the gloves but before that can happen, Whitney steps in to breakt it up. Officials break up the scrum. Morrisonn is called for tripping. This is the Penguins 29,342nd power play of the day.
4:14: Gonchar fires a slapper from the top of the slot. It gets deflected away.
3:51: On a two-on-one, Backstrom whips a puck over the net.
3:07: The Washington penalty expires. Unofficially, the Penguins had two turnovers and no shots on net.
2:24: Talbot pushes a shot on net. Theodore kicks it out.
1:38: Laich fires a wild spinning wrister on net. Garon fights it off despite a screen.
0:46: Fleischmann works his way up ice and clunks a shot off the cross bar from the right wing.
0:20: Crosby has a chance in the slot but his shot is deflected.
0:04: A shot by Jurcina is stopped by Garon. A scrum develops.
0:00: End of game. Capitals 5, Penguins 2.
POSTGAME
-All things considered, this isn't the worst loss in the world for the Penguins. They had a pretty emotional, crazy game the day before. Fleury was playing on little rest and don't discount Washington. This is a very good team. The Penguins have had tough crippling losses this season. This wasn't one of them.
-That said, we have to again question why the Penguins stuck with their aggressive run-and-gun approach to this game? Why not pull back into more of a defensive mode? The Penguins just don't have the depth to go up and down the ice with Washington.
-Olczyk had a good point late in the broadcast about how the Capitals got contributions from just about everyone on the roster. Donald Brashear, the team's goon, had 8:02 of ice time today, the low for the Capitals. And he did bring something with some physcial play on the boards. Chris Minard (6:30) and Eric Godard (2:44) each played less than Brashear and contributed far less.
-We're not saying those two specific players could've made a difference for the Penguins. We just think it's a good illustration of the Penguins' lack of depth.
-Allow us again to question why Kris Letang was a healthy scratch. He would've been a big asset in a game like this.
-The Penguins' power play is still terrible. We really don't know what else to say about it.
-Fedotenko had a big drop off compared to his last two games.
-Hindsight is always 20-20, but starting Garon would've helped the Penguins' chances today.
-The Capitals only had a 34-33 edge in shots actually.
-Ovechkin led the game with nine shots.
-Sykora and Gonchar each led the Penguins with five.
-Faceoffs were even, 27-27.
-Crosby was 14-for-25 (56 percent).
-Steckel was 7-for-13 (54 percent).
-Crosby led the game with 27:08.
-Green led Washington with 24:04.
-Poti led the game with four blocked shots.
-Talbot led the Penguins with three.
-The Capitals will have a winning record against the Penguins for the first time since the 2002-03 season when they went 3-1.
-This was Washington's first home win against the Penguins since a 6-3 victory, March 8.