Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Stanley Cup Champions are finally in Washington, D.C.

By: MF,

Tonight is going to prove to be another tough rivalry night for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they are in Washington, D.C. to take on the Washington Capitals. The Penguins have gone 10-3-2 to start the season and the Capitals are 9-4-2. 

This is the second time the two teams have met this season. The Penguins came out with the win in the first game, which was the home opener for the Penguins, in a 4-3 shootout. These two teams always prove to be an interesting game and a tough one. 

Last time, Sidney Crosby was not in the lineup due to a concussion. He will be in the lineup tonight and he has been on fire. Crosby has points in eight of nine of his appearances. He has 10 goals, which leads the Eastern Conference and second in the NHL. These numbers could be higher as he missed the first six games of the season. Crosby has been great for the team and has opened up options. He draws attention and that allows other guys to get going with some open room. Look for him to be big on the scoreboard, but also making plays that lead to chances. Also, the Penguins will have Matt Murray between the pipes and that will give them some stability on the backend. 

The Penguins will have to look out for the Capitals setting up the one timers for their star shooters, including Alex Ovechkin. However, the Penguins know how to limit his time and space. They just need to stick to their game and not let the Capitals get them off their game. 

The Capitals are coming off a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 in overtime last night. The Penguins need to take advantage and use their speed to wear down the Capitals early. The Capitals won’t be able to match the Penguins tempo for the full 60-minute game. Lets Go Pens! 

On the injury front, Derrick Pouliot (lower body) practiced with the team and was wearing the yellow “no contact” jersey. 

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Rust
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Sestito-Cullen-Fehr

Defense
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Daley
Cole-Schultz


Murray in the net!

Play by Play
Pens 1 Capitals 7

3rd Period
0:00 - The Caps get the 7-1 win over the Pens. It was one of the worse games for the Pens to start this season. It was a bad overall game and one can't blame goalies this time. Time to move onto the next game.

1:50 - Pens will get a power play for the rest of this game as Wilson sits for interference.

3:02 - Backstrom scores. Backstrom gets some time and space on the wing. He snaps one between the arm and leg of Fleury (glove side). 7-1 Caps

3:31 - KESSEL SCORES! Schultz fires a rocket on net that Bonino redirects past Holtby in front! Kessel finds the loose puck in the blue paint and puts it into the net. 6-1 Caps

3:57 - Not much time left in this one for the Pens. Looks like the best they can hope for is to spoil Holtby's night by scoring at least one.

7:21 - The Pens are falling to pieces tonight. They are not playing their game and look like a completely different team. I have to give credit to the Caps, who are skating very well.

9:34 - Ovechkin scores. Dumoulin falls down in the offensive zone and turns over the puck. Ovechkin out skates Letang to wrap one around the out-stretched leg of Fleury. 6-0 Caps

10:59 - Crosby snaps the puck on net and it takes an odd bounce to find Malkin in front. Somehow Oshie is able to get a pad on Malkin's shot.

14:21 - Caps now have a regular power play for 1:32.

14:22 - Williams scores on the power play. Just before the five-on-three power play expires, Oshie finds Williams in the slot. Williams snaps one past Fleury. 5-0 Caps

14:49 - Things have gotten worse for the Pens as Dumoulin is called for delay of game. Caps with a five-one-three power play for 31 seconds.

16:12 - Letang joins Sestito in the box for closing his hand over the puck on the ice. Caps to the power play.

16:26 - Caps have the Pens back on their heels. Unreal amount of offensive zone time for the Caps.

19:59 - Sestito was given a misconduct penalty at the end of the second period. He will start this period in the box.

20:00 - Time for the third period! It will take a lot for the Pens to get back into this one, but they would be the team to do it! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Second period ends and the Caps extend their lead to 4-0 over the Pens.

0:26 - Pens come up with a successful penalty kill.

1:45 - Ovechkin rifles a shot that rings off the crossbar.

2:20 - Hagelin with a short handed chance that is saved by Holtby.

2:26 - This is getting out of hand. Sheary is called for tripping and the Caps are right back on the power play.

3:41 - Another successful penalty kill for the Pens.

5:41 - Malkin heads back to the box for hooking. Caps bring out their power play unit and Ovechkin is back out on the ice.

5:50 - The power play for the Pens comes to an end.

6:48 - Pens now have a power play for 58 seconds.

7:50 - Cole takes a stick up high from Kuzentsov, who will head to the box. Four-on-four play for 1:02 before the Pens get a power play chance.

8:48 - Ovechkin gets a the puck and makes a move to go around Letang. Letang's stick is caught up and Ovechkin ends up going down hard. He heads to the locker room. Letang to the box for tripping. Caps to the power play.

10:06 - Oshie has a chance at getting a breakaway, but Dumoulin comes in to stick the puck away. Great defensive work by him.

11:53 - The Pens kill off the power play and Crosby is set free. Fleury made a big save on an Ovechkin shot with his mask.

13:53 - Now Crosby heads to the box for slashing and the Caps will get a power play opportunity. Huge penalty kill ahead for the Pens.

13:57 - Caps are the buzzing team and the Pens are falling flat. They are giving up scoring chances, odd-man rushes, and giving them way too much space/time.

14:41 - Orlov scores. Another odd-man rush for the Caps and Orlov puts one under the blocker of Fleury. 4-0 Caps

15:50 - The Caps with a great three-man rush into the offensive zone. Schmidt snaps one on net that Fleury gets a piece of, but the puck starts to tickle behind him towards the goal line. Daley gets to the puck first and bats it away.

16:34 - The Pens power play comes to an end.

18:00 - Looks more like a power play for the Capitals. Fleury with a huge stretching save to keep things as they are.

18:34 - Pens to the power play as Williams sits for hooking.

19:00 - Ovechkin gets the puck and looks like he will get a one-on-one chance. However, Daley is solid and sticks the puck away from Ovechkin.

19:06 - Both teams are back to full strength.

19:08 - Fleury with a quick pad save. Great save.

19:59 - Fleury is in the net for the second. Murray is on the bench. 1:14 left on the four-on-four.

20:00 - We are back for the second period! The Pens have to step up their game, put pucks on net, and clean up their defensive work! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - The first period comes to a close and the Caps have the 2-0 lead over the Pens.

0:07 - Oshie scores on the power play. Fleury makes the initial save on Ovehckin's shot. Oshie and Backstrom are left wide open at the side of the net. Oshie puts in the rebound. 3-0 Caps

0:24 - Alzner gets a feed from Ovechkin. Murray makes the save and Alzner jostles with him. Malkin comes and to defend Murray. Murray losses his helmet in the scramble and gets hit in the face by Malkin's stick. He heads to the locker room and Fleury comes in. Malkin will head to the box. Caps with four-on-three power play.

0:42 - Matching minors and we will get some four-on-four hockey. Orlov and Kessel.

0:45 - Johansson gets a chance at a wide open net as Murray dives down. Johannsson fires his shot over the net.

2:30 - Backstrom scores. The Caps start up ice and Backstrom gets the puck as he enters the offensive zone. He uses Dumoulin as a screen and sneaks one past Murray. 2-0 Caps

4:06 - Dumoulin puts a perfect shot on net, Holtby tries to hold the puck, but it bounces around the blue paint. Hornqvist crashes the net, but the net is dislodged.

4:31 - Holtby makes a great save as he dives back to stop the puck with his stick. Malkin goes into the blue paint and kicks the puck into the net. Goal is reviewed and it's announced as a no goal.

7:36 - Schultz blasts a hard shot on net that is grabbed up by Holtby.

11:12 - Caps with a successful penalty kill as Connolly is released.

12:28 - Oshie scores a shorthanded goal. Malkin tries to make a pass to Letang in a small area, but Oshie breaks up the pass and send Beagle down the ice. Beagle has the advantage on Letang and has a one-on-one chance with Murray. Murray makes the first save, but Oshie is able to put in the rebound. 1-0 Caps

13:12 - Connolly will head to the sin bin for checking on Crosby. The Pens head onto the power play.

14:14 - Orlov fires a shot from the blue line that is redirect up front by Wilson. Murray is able to track the puck, even with the direction change, and makes a pad save.

16:05 - Oshie finds Backstrom at the side of the net, but Dumoulin doesn't allow him to get a shot off. Caps with some chances, but Murray and the defense are up to the task.

17:33 - Good start by the Pens and they have some jump in their game. Some solid puck movement.

20:00 - The puck has dropped in Washington! The Pens need to use their speed and wear down the Caps early! Lets Go Pens! 

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