Capitals steal one in Pittsburgh in overtime

The Washington Capitals overcame injuries to several guys. Some came back in the game and some did not. But most importantly the team came back and won in overtime 4-3 thanks to a game winning blast from Dmitry Orlov.

The Capitals also got a big performance from Ilya Samsonov with the only goals he allowed coming on the Pittsburgh Penguins power play. He came in for Vitek Vanecek after he left the game from a collision.

In all, Samsonov made 43 saves on the night and the Caps rallied from a 3-2 deficit. Things began at 5:50 with an early shorthanded breakaway goal from Nic Dowd for his sixth of the season. Carl Hagelin had the lone primary assist.

Then the Penguins started connecting on the power play. They got goals from Evgeni Malkin at 6:26 and then Bryan Rust at 11:26. Late in the first the Caps got a power play chance and at 16:13 Orlov scored his first of the night. It came on a rebound off a shot on a drive to tenet by Conor Sheary while Justin Schultz had the secondary assist. 2-2 was the score after one with the Penguins leading in shots 12-10.

The second period was ugly for the Caps as they were outshot 23-7. The Pens took a lead on another power play goal from Rust at 4:44. Then in the McNugget Minute at 19:18 it was Daniel Sprong using misdirection from puck handling while driving to the net for his eighth goal of the season. Don’t scratch him. John Carlson had the assist.

Nobody scored in the third as the Caps led in shots 12-10. It was a little quiet but better effort. The Caps outshot the Penguins 3-2 in overtime with the third shot being the charm on a downtown blast from Orlov at 4:17 for his seventh of the season.

Samsonov made 43 saves on 45 shots. The Pens put up 47 shots total while the Caps had 32.

Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette told the media after the game:

"“Tonight, we had to fight and claw for everything out there. I like the fact that we stayed with it; scored a big goal at the end of the first and a big goal at the end of the second. We found a way to make it 3-3 and push it and get it done in overtime.”"

The Caps return home for a Wednesday night contest against the Edmonton Oilers that you can see on TNT. It’s the final game before the All Star break.