Penguins snap skid in physical battle with Caps

WASHINGTON — The Capitals got here out aggressive for his or her rivalry sport in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night time, firing every of the primary 5 photographs on aim. It was all Penguins from there because the visiting crew ran away with a 4-1 win to snap its seven-game dropping streak.

Darcy Kuemper had been off to an incredible begin to his first 12 months in Washington with a 4-5-1 report that didn’t replicate his efforts to this point. He earned his fair proportion of the loss Wednesday, nevertheless, permitting three targets within the second interval with two approaching low-danger possibilities.

It was a bodily battle, with the 2 groups combining for 66 hits and a few five-minute combating majors. However the Capitals’ offense additionally by no means bought going as the facility play, usually a spark plug for Washington, struggled to generate momentum with the puck.

Listed below are three takeaways from the Capitals’ loss to the Penguins.

Kuemper unravels in second

The primary interval glided by with out a rating as every crew laid the groundwork for a bodily contest. They pushed the tempo and the battle for the puck usually prolonged into the other zones, creating loads of scoring possibilities as the 2 goalies stood tall.

Kuemper, who entered the sport with a 2.42 GAA in 10 begins, fell aside within the second interval. The Penguins took the lead on the 8:43 mark on a shot by winger Jason Zucker that bought caught below Kuemper’s pad. He misplaced the puck and ended up kicking it into the aim.

After Pittsburgh scored one other aim short-handed to increase their lead, they struck once more on their very subsequent possession. Defenseman Jeff Petry fired a shot from the purpose that Kuemper by no means noticed. He tried to stay his glove out, however the puck sailed over it for a 3-0 lead.

With the loss, Kuemper fell to 4-6-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .917 save share.

Energy play goes darkish

The ability play has been the Capitals’ largest power over the previous couple of weeks, accounting for 13 of their 40 targets (32.5%) this season heading into play Wednesday. The unit did not make an affect Wednesday, going 0-for-2 in alternatives with the person benefit.

As a part of the Penguins’ three-goal second interval, Washington allowed winger Brock McGinn simply the second shorthanded aim of his profession on a shot that squeaked by Kuemper’s pads 12:53 into the second.

The Capitals’ energy play unit has been enjoying with out a number of key gamers corresponding to defenseman John Carlson (decrease physique) and T.J. Oshie (decrease physique), however up to now their manufacturing had been changed by the likes of Erik Gustafsson and Dylan Strome. Nobody made a lot of an affect on the person benefit Wednesday, nevertheless, with the crew as a complete permitting extra photographs in opposition to (3) than photographs for (1) on power-play possibilities.

Washington’s lone aim of the night time got here off the stick of winger Marcus Johansson within the latter half of the third interval.

An empty netter with simply over 90 seconds to play arrange the ultimate 4-1 rating.

Bodily contest leaves Penguins limping

The Penguins have been down as many as three defensemen within the third interval because the bodily battle despatched blue liners Jeff Petry, Jan Rutta and Pierre-Olivier Joseph to the locker room with accidents all through the sport.

Each Rutta and Joseph left the sport within the second and didn’t come again out with the crew for the ultimate interval. Then, Petry took a success close to the Penguins’ bench and limped off. He missed a few shifts with middle Jeff Carter having to step in on the level for a couple of minutes.

Even with Pittsburgh lacking a number of defensemen, the Capitals couldn’t take benefit. Their report dropped to 6-7-2, permitting Pittsburgh to tug inside two factors of them within the Metropolitan Division standings. With how muddled the division has been early on, head-to-head wins between these two groups could possibly be essential for a tiebreaker at season’s finish.

Washington will play the Penguins two extra occasions this season with their subsequent matchup scheduled for Jan. 26 again in D.C. For now, the Capitals will flip their consideration to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a home-and-home sequence starting Friday at Capital One Enviornment.