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Capitals get a huge win against the Penguins

By Edward L Ford Jr

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Carl Hagelin #62 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his second goal of the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena on February 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Carl Hagelin #62 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his second goal of the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena on February 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Capitals end skid with a huge win against the Penguins 🐧

The Washington Capitals couldn’t have had their best period in more than a month against their rival the Pittsburgh Penguins. A lot of forechecking and shots on net was the biggest difference in the first period. The Capitals were outshot eight to five in the first, but had more quality over quantity of shots.

At the end of the first, the Capitals would hold a lead (1-0) for the first time in a while of Jakub Varna’s twenty-fourth goal of the season at the 13:45 mark of the first.

Vrana went point and scoreless in his last seven games before scoring. However, the Penguins would get the first penalty of the game but would fail to convert and the positive side of the penalty-killing group continues for the Capitals.

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Coming in from intermission, the Penguins had a PP, but the Capitals PK would kill it of and keep the game close.

Just before intermission, things would get a bit chippy with Brenden Dillion getting into his first fight as a Washington Capital. But, I must say, after a couple of hooks to the face of Malkin, he got his money’s worth.

Not much occurred in the second period for the Capitals. Turnovers and stretch passes continued to be picked of and turn into odd man rushes for the Penguins. They would eventually take the lead for the first time in the game of a Crosby shot that was accidentally knocked of T.J. Oshie, giving the Penguins the lead 2-1.

However, arguably, the best 3rd period In a month, the Capitals came out firing on all cylinders. A pair of minor penalties between both the Penguins and the Capitals, would set it all up for two minutes of 4-on-4 hockey.

Tom Wilson would later skate in for a breakaway, dekes Matt Murray, and scores to tie it up. At two apiece. But, if you’re a Capitals fan, you know that’s not enough against the Penguins.

The boy’s would later go back to work with Carl Hagelin, a former penguin, would score a dirty goal, which we haven’t seen in God knows how long. At this point you can feel the excitement in the Arena. Fans standing, cheering as the Capitals have taken the lead 3-2 over the Penguins. But, Malkin, dekes Carlson and scores a pretty goal to tie it up 3-3 at the 12:10 mark of the 3rd period.

So, who’s gonna be the hero so the Capitals can get a regulation win, end the losing streak and not give Capitals fans a heart attack? Well, none other then, T.J. Oshie!

At the 9:20 mark of the 3rd period, he goes to the backhand after shooting the puck on net seconds before, but was denied by Murray. However, Oshie is known for his grit and would give the Capitals the lead 4-3 and there was no looking back. Hagelin would get an empty net goal to secure the win for the Capitals ending their losing streak.

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Braden Holtby would stop 33 shots of 36 for a save percentage of .91. The scores for your Capitals today were, Vrana (1), T.J. Oshies (1), Wilson (1) and Hagelin (2). The season series is even at one game apiece with two remaining in Pittsburgh. One or both could be for the division but we’ll worry about that when that time comes.

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