Capitals at Penguins - 02-21-11
PREGAME
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Greetings from a snowy, snowy, snowy Pittsburgh. Traffic was a mess. That's why we're late. The Civic Arena:
-The current barn:
-The ice:
-Some jersey sightings. Paul Martin:
-A rare Joe Mullen/Peter Taglianetti duo:
-A few of these eyesores are around:
-Capitals postseason nemesis Ken Wregget:
-Ben Lovejoy:
-Normally a Patrick Lalime jersey would be Jersey of the Night....:
-But dear lord... Jim Flipping Paek:
-Warm ups:
-The Penguins' starters are Pascal Dupuis, Jordan Staal, Brett Sterling, Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik and Marc-Andre Fleury.
-Their scratches are Eric Godard and Paul Martin.
-Brian Strait is in the lineup and wearing No. 37. Former Penguins who have worn that number:
| Justin Duberman | 1994-1994 |
| Greg Andrusak | 1995-1995 |
| Kip Miller | 1999-2001 |
| Tom Kostopoulos | 2002-2002 |
| Mikael Samuelsson | 2003-2003 |
| Ryan VandenBussche | 2006-2006 |
| Jarkko Ruutu | 2007-2008 |
| Bill Thomas | 2009-2009 |
-The Capitals starters are Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble, Alex Ovechkin, Karl Alzner, John Carlson and Michal Neuvirth.
-Their scratches are Mike Green and Matt Hendricks.
-No Jimerson. No photo.
FIRST PERIOD
19:39: Lots of empty seats - on account of the snow we imagine. Despite that, a pretty healthy "LET'S GO PENS!" chant rains down.
18:54: After Craig Adams forces a turnover in the offensive zone by Neuvirth, Tyler Kennedy snaps off a wrister from the right wing. Neuvrith fights it off.
18:30: Kennedy is sent off for tripping Brooks Laich. Brook Orpik, Zbynek Michalek,Staal and Maxime Talbot take the ice.
18:15: Talbot steals a lazy pass ba Backstrom to Orpik at the left point. He pushes it forward up ice. Carlson catches up to him.Talbot spins and deals the pass to Staal. Staal kind of whips a pass back to Talbot who whips a blind backhander on net. Neuvirth fights it off.
17:35: Michalek forces a turnover by Ovechkin in the defensive zone. Staal whips the loose puck down ice.
16:30: Kennedy's penalty is killed. The Penguins were stellar that two minutes.
14:22: Alexander Semin flips a puck out of play from the right wing boards in his own zone out of play across the ice. Kind of weird play. The Penguins will take it. Sterling, Staal, Kennedy, Letang and Chris Conner take the ice. Conner? O... kay.
12:22: The Semin penalty expires. The Penguins looked pretty disorganized that two minutes.
12:10: Lovejoy chops a slapper from the right point wide on the near side.
10:58: HUUUGE save. After England flicks a wrister from the right point. Backstrom pushes the rebound up ice with a backhander to Ovechkin who is off to the races. Engelland and Orpik give chase and hack Ovechkin from behind. Ovechkin fends them off and goes to the backhand. Fleury sticks with the play and punches it away with his blocker. This place erupts in noise, primarily in the form of "FLERRR-EEEEE! FLERRRR-EEEE!" chants.
9:20: The Penguins' defensive pairings are all over the place. Strait has taken shifts with Letang and Lovejoy. Orpik has been with Engelland.
8:38: Orpik drops Backstrom with a check in the neutral zone. Oof.
8:29: Sterling pushes the pushes the ice and gets a step on a defender. With Staal trailing, he taps a drop pass to him. Staal snaps it off on one. Neuvirth gloves it.
8:22: Off a faceoff win by Talbot in the right circle in the Capitals' zone. Engelland pushes a pass to Michalek at the top of the slot. Michalek booms a one-timer. Neuvirth kicks it out. A rebound is available but Talbot can't get a clean stick on it. Neuvirth is able to cover it.
7:37: On a delayed penalty, Kennedy snaps off a wrister from teh top of the slot. Scott Hannan is called for holding Kennedy. Letang, Sterling, Conner, Kennedy and Staal take the ice.
6:11: Dupuis whips a spinning backhander from the right circle on net. Neuvirth fights it off.
6:37: The Hannan minor is killed. That was another unorganized effort. BRING BACK GOLIGOSKI. FIRE STAAL. MATT COOKE!!!! ARGH!!
5:13: John Erskine rips a wrister from the right circle. Fleury fights it off.
5:04: After Ovechki is denied in tight, Johanson pumps a wrister on net from the left circle. Fleury eats it up.
4:33: Letang drives a slapper from the right point. Neuvirth fights it off despite traffic.
4:13: Tim Wallace drops John Carlson in the right wing corner in the Capitals' zone with a nice forecheck.
3:44: Ryan Craig grips and rips a wrister from the right circle. Neuvirth punches it away.
3:18: Matt Bradley corrals a loose puck beind the Penguins net, circles around to the left of the cage
2:54: Staal gets denied on a wraparound attempt on his forehand by Neuvirth's left foot.
2:22: Jason Chirmea is sent off for interference against Talbot. He protests the call but he's in the box for two minutes. It's a call by the book, but that gets let go by more than a few other officials in the NHL. Sterling, Kennedy, Staal, Letang and Conner take the ice.
0:27: Michalek drives a slapper from the top of the slot. Neuvirth eats it up despite a screen by Mike Rupp.
0:22: The Chimera minor is killed. The Penguins maintained possession and pressure a little bit more that two minutes.
0:00: End of period. Capitals 0, Penguins 0.
FIRST INTERMISSION
-That was a fantastic period for the Penguins. They created plenty of chances. They maintained possession. And they were physical. They just couldn't figure out Neuvirth.
-This is Marc-Andre Fleury's team. He save the day - for the time being at least - with a clutch, clutch save on one of the most dangerous players in the world. If Ovechkin scores, this is a different game.
-We know pickings are a little slim with Goligoski gone and Martin out, but we have a hard time believing Chris Conner is a better option on the power play than Lovejoy or Michalek.
-It would be a stretch to say Strait has stood out. He has only had three shifts.
-The Penguins are dominating shots, 18-7.
-Talbot leads the game with four.
-Ovechkin leads the Penguins with two.
-Letang leads the game with 9:44 of ice time.
-Alzner leads the Capitals with 7:49.
-The Penguins lead in faceoffs, 14-11 (56 percent).
-Talbot is 3 for 4 (75 percent).
-David Steckel is 4 for 6 (67 percent).
-Kennedy, Schultz and Sloan each lead the game with two blocked shots.
-Apparently Stars general manager Joe Niewendyk doesn't play NHL 11:
(Kudos to EN reader @JeremyNiziol for that.)
-And the Bruce Boudreau "sauceyface" signs from The Pensblog have made a return:
-The game is being delayed on account of lighting issues. Nice to see those checks from Consol Energy are going to good use.
SECOND PERIOD
17:49: Penguin killer Mike Knuble flicks a backander from the left circle.Amazingly, it didn't impale Fleury and go into the net. Fleury fights it off.
17:08: After a turnover by Orpik, Fleury denies Ovechkin in tight twice.
15:35: Alzner drives a slapper from the right point. Fleury boots it out with his right foot.
14:59: Kennedy booms a heavy slapper from the right wing to the far side. Neuvirth kicks it out with his right foot. Deryk Engelland (huh?) crashed in but takes a spill in the crease before he can get a stick on the puck.
14:42: Matt Cooke is called for interference against Mathieu Perreault. Orpik, Mickahel, Talbot and Staal take the ice.
14:04: Backstrom snaps off a wrister from the right circle. Fleury makes the inital save and denies Laich on the rebound.
12:39: As Cooke's penalty expires, Orpik chops the puck down ice. Big kill.
11:58: Off a turnover by the Capitals behind their own net. Cooke takes it and attempts a wrap around but can't get it on net.
11:50: Bradley runs over Cooke in the right wing corner in the Capitals' zone. Staal skates over and tackles Bradley. Bradley and Staal each get minors. Bradley is called for charging. Staal for roughing. Not buying that charging call. That seemed like a clean hit on a player with the puck. Four on four.
11:31: Ovechkin hustles into the offensive zone and blasts a slapper from the right point. Fleury snags it with a spectacular glove save.
9:50: Staal and Bradley return to the ice.
9:05: Staal deals a little feed to Talbot in the slot. Talobt swipes it on net but Tyler Sloan is there to chop Talbot's stick just enough to force the shot wide.
8:34: Craig decides to take Bradley to task for his hit on Cooke. They drop the gloves just outside the Penguins' blue line. They mostly chuck and duck with a bunch of rights until Craig trips and falls with Bradley on top. Give that one to Bradley on points.
7:29: Rupp collects a loose puck in the left circle and whips it on net. Neuvirth eats it up. Attendance is announced as 18,263. It is the team's 197th consecutive sellout.
5:17: Ovehkin coasts up the left wing and snaps off a wrister from the circle. Letang blocks it.
5:08: Hannan drives a slapper from the right point. Fleury bodies it away.
4:44: Joe Vitale is nabbed for tripping Johansson in the Penguins' slot. Staal, Michalek, Orpik and Cooke take the ice.
4:25: Shorthanded, Cooke pumps a slapper on net from just inside the Capitals' blue line. Neuvirth fights it off.
4:10: Cooke flips a bakcanded clear up ice to Staal who is loose on a breakaway. Staal moves in on net with Carlson giving chase. He goes forehand and is denied by Neuvirth's left leg.
3:22: Knuble sneaks up the right wing and flicks a wrister on net. Fleury boots it otu to the slot. Johansson settles it and deals to Ovechkin at the left point. Ovechkin cranks a one-timer from the left point which toasts Fleury on the far side by his right shoulder. The puck clunks off the cross bar and into the net. What a shot! Johansson and Knuble get assists. Knuble now has 13 consecutive regular season games with a point against the Penguins. Capitals 1-0.
1:07: Semin tees up a slapper from the right circle. Engelland squats down and blocks it with a "thunk." Engelland is limping a bit after that.
0:14: Michalek drops Chimera below the Penguins' goal line with a check into the boards.
0:00: End of period. Capitals 1, Penguins 0.
SECOND INTERMISSION
-Things evened out a bit that period. The Capitals generated a ton of chances just like the Penguins did in the first. The main difference is that they have Ovechkin taking those shots. The Penguins have... Tyler Kennedy.
-Who would have thought you'd see two consecutive defensive battles between these two teams?
-Fleury was strong that period. There isn't a goaltender on earth who was going to stop that shot by Ovechkin.
-The Penguins have a 25-21 lead in shots.
-The Capitals outshot the Penguins in the second period, 14-7.
-Ovechkin leads the game with seven.
-Staal leads the Penguins with five.
-Letang leads the game with 16:55 of ice time.
-Carlson leads the Capitals with 16:37.
-Faceoffs are even, 23-23 (50 percent).
-Talbot is 7 for 9 (78 percent).
-Steckel is 4 for 7 (57 percent).
-Michalek leads the game with four blocked shots.
-Schultz and Sloan each lead the Capitals with three.
-Dan Bylsma is your cover boy for IceTime:
THIRD PERIOD
19:29: Dupuis snaps off a wrister from the top of the slot. Neuvirth knocks it down and covers to freeze play.
17:55: Sterling settles a bouncing puck and rips a wrister from the left circle wide on the far side.
17:05: Sterling gets a little space on the left wing and snaps off a wrister from the circle. It hits off the near post.
16:58: Letang whips a wrister from the right point. Neuvirth eats it up.
16:20: Michalek pumps slapper from the right point. Neuvirth fights it off. Craig Adams and Kennedy fish for a rebound but nothing.
16:08: Laich dumps a puck into the offensiive zone from the neutral zone and gets drops into the boards for his troubles by Cooke.
16:06: After an icing call, the Capitals call a time out to get a rest.
14:57: Strait blocks a wrister by Ovechkin in teh left circle in the Penguins' zone.
12:48: Great backcheck! Conner re-directs a puck from the right wing to the slot. Talbot is there, he gets behidn Carlson and seemingly has a clean route to the net. He moves in and before he can pull the trigger, Carlson interferes with him just enough to break up the play and avoid a penalty. Talbot take a tumble and crashes into the cage. Fantastic play by Carlson. Fans boo wanting a penalty but Talbot fell on his own.
12:01: Letang fends off a check by Ovechin at the right point, recovers the puck, sneaks in and rips a wrister. Sloan blocks it. Letang recovers it and pushes a backhander on net. Neuvirth is able to hold it out with his glove despite being spread out on all fours in the crease. Kennedy and Erskine mix it up a bit but nothing comes of it.
10:12: Letang bangs Backstrom along the left wing boards in the Penguins' zone. Backstrom takes a swipe at Letang. Letang swipes back. No penalties.
8:12: Ovechkin floats into the slot off the left wing. As he pulls the trigger, Orpik pops him with a hip check. Fleury punches away the shot.
7:11: Alzner chucks a wrister from the left point. Letang knocks it down.
6:24: Lovejoy drives a slapper from just outside the Penguins' blue line on net. Neuvirth gloves it and freezes play. Rupp and Erskine mix it up behind the Capitals' net. Nothing comes of it. The Capitals are pretty much in full-out defensive mode now.
5:46: Kennedy snaps off a wrister from the right wing. Neuvirth kicks it out.
5:16: Michalek picks up a loose puck at the left point and whips it on net. Neuvirth eats it up.
4:45: Boyd Gordon and Vitale collide behind the net. Acutally, Gordon checked him into it as Vitale was chasing a puck carrier. That should've been interference.
2:39: Kennedy flicks a wrister on net from the left circle. Neuvirth eats it up.
2:01: Off a faceoff win in the offensive zone, Letang and Michalek each have slapper from the point blocked.
1:09: Fleury is pulled for an extra attacker.
0:46: The Penguins call time out to get organized.
0:38: Michalek pounds a slapper from the right point. It hits a body in front and bounces just outside the crease. Sterling, Staal, Kennedy and Dupuis dig like miners for rebound but nothing.
0:16: Staal has a chance the the left point for a one-timer but fans on the shot. The puck leaves the offensive zone.
0:00: End of period. Capitals 1, Penguins 0.
POSTGAME
-Obviously the ultimate goal is to get two points. But this was a somewhat oddly satisfying loss. If that make sense. The Penguins worked their tails off. They had tons of AHL talent in the lineup. Their defensive pairings were a mess. Each of their sixth and seventh defensemen were in the lineup. As was a rookie making his NHL debut on the blue line. Yet, the Penguins took them to the edge and barely dropped a one-goal game. There's no shame in this loss.
-This is not Penguins-Capitals. The last two games have not been Penguins-Capitals. These have been tight defensive struggles. We're used to 5-4 games. Not this.
-The Penguins just didn't have the NHL-caliber bodies to generate offense as they like. All due respect to Joe Vitale, Ryan Craig and Brian Strait, but they're not Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby or Alex Goligoski. Heck, they're not even Mark Letestu, Dustin Jeffrey and Paul Martin.
-The goaltending was outstanding. Michael Neuvirth has shutout the Penguins for seven consecutive periods. Marc-Andre Fleury was nearly perfect. If not for a perfect shot by Ovechkin, we might have a 0-0 game going to a shootout.
-Defensively, the Penguins were pretty sharp. They allowed a ton of shots, but they prevent a ton too. They sold out on defense and really limited Washington.
-The Penguins power play was bad going 0-3 but what can you expect? The only "original" piece of it intact is Letang.
-Neuvirth came through with some clutch saves, particularly a blocker save on Jordan Staal's shorthanded breakway in the second period.
-How huge was Carlson's backcheck to strip Talbot in the third period on a partial breakaway?
-Michalek really stepped tonight, particularly on offense, with the loss of Goligoski. He has a decent right-handed shot and he used it quite a bit tonight, creating some second-chance rebounds. Hopefully Goligoski's exit creates some more chances for him offensively.
-We were really impressed with Carlson overall. He was physical, responsible in his own zone and carried the puck well. He had a very complete game. He stepped up in the absence of Mike Green.
-Matt Bradley didn't think much of his team's effort: "They took it to us in the third. I think we were lucky to get the two points tonight because overall, I think they outworked us."
-Mike Knuble had yet another point against the Penguins. He now has scored in 13 consecutive regular season games against them dating back to his time with the Flyers.
-The worst part of the night for the Capitals is the fact that their flight home got canceled on account of snow.
-The Penguins led in shots, 39-24.
-Ovechkin led the game with eight shots.
-Michalek, Dupuis, Staal, Talbot and Kennedy each led the Penguins with five.
-Letang led the game with 27:45 of ice time.
-Carlson led the Capitals with 24:36.
-The Penguins had a 36-33 edge in faceoffs (52 percent).
-Talbot was 11 for 13 (85 percent).
-Backstrom was 6 for 8 (75 percent).
-Michalek, Letang, Chimera and Sloan each led the game with four blocked shots.