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| Capitals start slow again — but finish fast once more to beat Penguins | Capitals start slow again — but finish fast once more to beat Penguins |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Washington Capitals discussed it in morning meetings: If the playoffs started now, they would be playing their rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. | The Washington Capitals discussed it in morning meetings: If the playoffs started now, they would be playing their rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. |
| “It’s the most likely first-round matchup, based on the percentage of 33.1, I think it is,” Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said. “But I didn’t mention [that].” | “It’s the most likely first-round matchup, based on the percentage of 33.1, I think it is,” Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said. “But I didn’t mention [that].” |
| After falling into a two-goal hole Tuesday night, the Capitals scored three unanswered goals to beat the Penguins, 3-2, at Verizon Center. Their 46th win eclipsed their victory total from all of last season — and there are still 20 games remaining. They also sent a message to a team they could see again in mid-April. | After falling into a two-goal hole Tuesday night, the Capitals scored three unanswered goals to beat the Penguins, 3-2, at Verizon Center. Their 46th win eclipsed their victory total from all of last season — and there are still 20 games remaining. They also sent a message to a team they could see again in mid-April. |
| [Postgame: Weber debuts for Capitals; Winnik arrives in Washington] | |
| “We’re always trying to lay some groundwork here and put doubts in teams’ minds,” defenseman Karl Alzner said. “We’ve done a good job of it against most teams this year, so we’re feeling good about that. This is one of those teams that you really want to put down, if possible.” | “We’re always trying to lay some groundwork here and put doubts in teams’ minds,” defenseman Karl Alzner said. “We’ve done a good job of it against most teams this year, so we’re feeling good about that. This is one of those teams that you really want to put down, if possible.” |
| With less than eight minutes left in the game, Evgeni Malkin committed a high-sticking penalty on T.J. Oshie, giving the Capitals a prime power-play opportunity in a tied game. As the Capitals buzzed, the Penguins gravitated toward Alex Ovechkin at the left faceoff circle. When the puck instead found Matt Niskanen at the point, he fired a one-timer for the game-winning goal against his former team with 6:22 to play. | With less than eight minutes left in the game, Evgeni Malkin committed a high-sticking penalty on T.J. Oshie, giving the Capitals a prime power-play opportunity in a tied game. As the Capitals buzzed, the Penguins gravitated toward Alex Ovechkin at the left faceoff circle. When the puck instead found Matt Niskanen at the point, he fired a one-timer for the game-winning goal against his former team with 6:22 to play. |
| “Everybody’s cheating over to Ovi,” Trotz said. “. . . If they want to give us that lane, we’re going to have to take that a little more often.” | “Everybody’s cheating over to Ovi,” Trotz said. “. . . If they want to give us that lane, we’re going to have to take that a little more often.” |
| Although the Penguins had played Monday night in Pittsburgh, they appeared to be the fresher team early. Slow starts have been a common narrative for Washington; it has allowed the first goal in seven of its past nine games. This one was especially hard to watch. | Although the Penguins had played Monday night in Pittsburgh, they appeared to be the fresher team early. Slow starts have been a common narrative for Washington; it has allowed the first goal in seven of its past nine games. This one was especially hard to watch. |
| [Steinberg: Why Brooks Laich mattered on D.C. sports landscape] | [Steinberg: Why Brooks Laich mattered on D.C. sports landscape] |
| “We couldn’t string two passes together today,” Trotz said. “We’re going to have to readjust our alarm clocks or whatever.” | “We couldn’t string two passes together today,” Trotz said. “We’re going to have to readjust our alarm clocks or whatever.” |
| Barely six minutes in, defenseman Brooks Orpik went in for a hit by the teams’ benches, taking himself out of the play as a two-on-one rush barreled toward goaltender Braden Holtby. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov lay down in the crease, hoping to cut off what he expected would be a pass from Malkin. Instead, Malkin maneuvered the puck through Holtby’s legs, giving the Penguins an early 1-0 lead 6:14 into the game. | Barely six minutes in, defenseman Brooks Orpik went in for a hit by the teams’ benches, taking himself out of the play as a two-on-one rush barreled toward goaltender Braden Holtby. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov lay down in the crease, hoping to cut off what he expected would be a pass from Malkin. Instead, Malkin maneuvered the puck through Holtby’s legs, giving the Penguins an early 1-0 lead 6:14 into the game. |
| Washington didn’t have its first shot on goal until 8:52 into the first period, and that snapper by Marcus Johansson was greeted by a Bronx cheer from the Verizon Center faithful. By that point, the Penguins had seven shots on goal. Washington still finished the game with 37 shots. | Washington didn’t have its first shot on goal until 8:52 into the first period, and that snapper by Marcus Johansson was greeted by a Bronx cheer from the Verizon Center faithful. By that point, the Penguins had seven shots on goal. Washington still finished the game with 37 shots. |
| “You probably don’t want to make a habit of [early deficits] any more than it already is, especially when you’re facing some good teams down the stretch,” forward Mike Richards said. “One time it’s going to bite us in the butt, especially come playoff time.” | “You probably don’t want to make a habit of [early deficits] any more than it already is, especially when you’re facing some good teams down the stretch,” forward Mike Richards said. “One time it’s going to bite us in the butt, especially come playoff time.” |
| [Ex-teammates wish Brooks Laich well] | [Ex-teammates wish Brooks Laich well] |
| Patric Hornqvist made it a two-goal deficit 3:45 into the second period. But with the lines shuffled, that second Penguins goal seemed to finally jolt the Capitals. Less than a minute later, Richards halved the deficit. With Tom Wilson screening goaltender Matt Murray, Richards scored his second goal of the year from the high slot. | Patric Hornqvist made it a two-goal deficit 3:45 into the second period. But with the lines shuffled, that second Penguins goal seemed to finally jolt the Capitals. Less than a minute later, Richards halved the deficit. With Tom Wilson screening goaltender Matt Murray, Richards scored his second goal of the year from the high slot. |
| Then with 3:57 left in the second period, Justin Williams attempted a wraparound and Evgeny Kuznetsov swatted in the rebound to tie it. | Then with 3:57 left in the second period, Justin Williams attempted a wraparound and Evgeny Kuznetsov swatted in the rebound to tie it. |
| “I’d like to say no matter who you’re playing, you play to win,” Niskanen said. “But it feels good to beat those guys, for everybody in the room. The biggest thing is we just can’t coast right now, this time of year. We’ve got to keep pushing to get better. As games get tighter and tighter, you can’t have mental lapses or times of the game, periods of the game, where you’re just not into it physically or have your battle level very high. | “I’d like to say no matter who you’re playing, you play to win,” Niskanen said. “But it feels good to beat those guys, for everybody in the room. The biggest thing is we just can’t coast right now, this time of year. We’ve got to keep pushing to get better. As games get tighter and tighter, you can’t have mental lapses or times of the game, periods of the game, where you’re just not into it physically or have your battle level very high. |
| “We talk about it a lot, and it hasn’t come to fruition a lot at the start of games. But the best characteristic we have on this team this year is we’re resilient and we play to win.” | “We talk about it a lot, and it hasn’t come to fruition a lot at the start of games. But the best characteristic we have on this team this year is we’re resilient and we play to win.” |