Usually, a Capitals-Penguins game gets the juices going. But tonight, with the Caps the number one seed headed into the playoffs and the Pens missing the loffs entirely, this is a game 82 that everyone is just trying to get over with.
In response, the Capitals are going with a creative lineup. Head coach Spencer Carbery is giving the start in net to fourth-string goaltender Clay Stevenson and going with 13 forwards and 5 defensemen in an attempt to have a clean, no-injury game. The Penguins are suiting up Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson, but not many other names that will be super recognizable to fans.
Puck drop for Caps-Pens game is at 7:00 pm on ESPN. This marks Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby’s 73rd career game against each other. Ovi comes into tonight’s game with 896 goals, four shy of the 900-career goal milestone.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Clay Stevenson with a huge save on Sidney Crosby from point-blank range.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (26). Assists: T. Wilson (32). Time: 04:08.
Tom Wilson shoots to the far pad on a two-on-one and Connor McMichael scores off the rebound via a tap-in.
Ethen Frank shoots wide on a breakaway.
🚨 1-1 tie. PIT Goal: Bryan Rust (30). Assists: V. Koivunen (6), M. Grzelcyk (38). Time: 04:54.
Stevenson makes the save on a deflected shot, but Rust immediately pots the rebound past him short side.
I love this guy, but watching Dylan McIlrath try to stop a 2-on-1 with Crosby down the right wing is the thing of nightmares.
Malkin nearly scores on his own point blank chance but Stephenson challenges and stops it.
At intermission: The game’s tied 1-1. The Penguins outshot the Capitals 13 to 5 in what was a terrible period for Washington.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Andrew Mangiapane to the box for holding the box at 06:19.
🚨 2-1 Pittsburgh Penguins. PIT PPG: Bryan Rust (31). Assists: S. Crosby (58), V. Koivunen (7). Time: 07:19.
Rust finishes a pretty passing play at the far post.
Dylan McIlrath to the box for cross-checking at 07:56.
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