Penguins – Capitals by the Numbers
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals decided to reintroduce the hockey world to how the game was played in the 1980’s.
Pittsburgh and Washington combined for 15 goals in a Penguins 8-7 overtime win.
The Penguins looked cooked in falling behind 3-0 with shaky defense and goaltending against the best defensive team in hockey with Braden Holtby in net.
The tide would soon turn…….
2nd Period Onslaught
Down 3-0, the Penguins erupted in scoring five goals in 8:11 and closed out the period with six goals in the frame.
The Caps and Pens combined for nine second period goals with Evgeni Malkin netting a hat trick in the period.
“That second period is one of the craziest periods I’ve been associated with,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said.
Per ESPN Stats & Information, the last time the Capitals scored 7 goals and didn’t win was against the Penguins on October. 11, 1988 when they also lost to the Penguins 8-7.
Fitting enough, Malkin had a hat trick tonight, while in the Penguins – Capitals 8-7 game on 10/11/1988, Mario Lemieux also had a hat trick with 3 goals and 2 assists for the Penguins.
1980’s Goaltending
There might not be another NHL game this season where the goaltending from both team’s is as bad as it was tonight at the PPG Paints Arena.
Braden Holtby pulled in the second period, allowed 5 goals on 26 shots — 808 save percentage –.
His replacement Philipp Grubauer allowed 3 goals on 11 shots, .727 save percentage.
Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray was brutal in the win, allowing 7 goals on 28 shots, a .750 save percentage. In just one night Murray saw his save percentage drop nine points, going from .925 which was top-5 in the NHL among starters, to now .916.
11 Penguins Tally a Point, Five post multi-point games
Evgeni Malkin vs Capitals – 3 Goals, 5 Shots
– 11th Career hat trick, scoring goals 19, 20, and 21 on the season. It is Malkin’s ninth 20-goal season of his career.
Season Stats: 21 goals – 28 assists – 49 points
Sidney Crosby vs Capitals – 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 3 SOG
27th goal of the season and a four point night moves him one point behind Conor McDavid for the NHL scoring lead. Got away with a tripping penalty in OT but made some fabulous plays throughout, including a 2-on-1 setup for Conor Sheary’s first goal of the night.
Season Stats: 27 Goals – 23 Assists – 50 Points
Conor Sheary vs Capitals – 2 Goals, 1 Assists, 4 SOG
– His 2-goal night was highlighted by the overtime winner, 34 seconds in to cap off a thrilling victory. Now has 28 points in 36 games.
Season Stats: 13 Goals – 15 Assists – 28 Points.
Justin Schultz vs Capitals- 4 Assists, 70.5 CF% (5v5)
– Schultz had a 4 assist night, including one primary assist in the win. He assisted on Sheary’s OT winner and had a great night in driving possession, on the ice for 31 shot attempts, 13 against at even strength. With 30 points in 43 games, Schultz is four points away from setting a career-high (33 points in 74 games, 2013-2014 season with EDM) in points
Season Stats: 7 Goals – 23 Assists – 30 Points.
Trevor Daley vs Capitals – 3 Assists
– Pointless in his previous five games, Daley broke out with a three assist night, two of them primary assists. It was Daley’s first multi-point game of the season.
Season Stats: 3 Goals – 12 Assists – 15 Points.
10:51
— Evgeni Malkin scored 3 goals in 10:51, the second fastest hat trick of his career.
32
— Penguins have won 32 games in a row when Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby score in the same game.
Goal Summary
1st Period
WSH 7:06 Andre Burakovsky (7) | Assist: Daniel Winnik (1-0 WSH)
WSH 17:09 Nicklas Backstrom (13) | Assists: T.J. Oshie, Alex Ovechkin (2-0 WSH)
2nd Period
WSH 1:17 Justin Williams (15) | Assists: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Marcus Johansson (WSH 3-0)
PIT 6:28 Evgeni Malkin (19) | Assists: Justin Schultz, Trevor Daley (WSH 3-1)
PIT 7:12 Conor Sheary (12) | Assists: Sidney Crosby, Trevor Daley (WSH 3-2)
PIT 8:55 Nick Bonino (7) | Assists: Phil Kessel, Justin Schultz (3-3)
PIT 13:47 Bryan Rust (11) | Assists: Trevor Daley, Olli Maatta (PIT 4-3)
PIT 14:37 Evgeni Malkin (20) | Assists: Jake Guentzel, Justin Schultz (PIT 5-3)
WSH 15:07 Brett Connolly (7) | Assists: Andre Burakovsky, Taylor Chorney (PIT 5-4)
WSH 16:54 Lars Eller (5) (Shorthanded) | Assists: T.J. Oshie, Nate Schmidt (5-5)
PIT 17:19 Evgeni Malkin (21, PPG) | Assists: Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist (PIT 6-5)
3rd Period
PIT 5:55 Sidney Crosby (27) | Assists: Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust (PIT 7-5)
WSH 9:29 T.J. Oshie (15) (Power Play) | Assists: Alex Ovechkin, Matt Niskanen (PIT 7-6)
WSH 14:38 Lars Eller (6) | Assists: Dmitry Orlov, Matt Niskanen (7-7)
Overtime
PIT 0:34
Conor Sheary (13)
| Assists: Sidney Crosby, Justin Schultz (PIT 8-7)
Shots: Pittsburgh 37 – Washington 28
5 v 5 Shot Attempts: Pittsburgh 57 – Washington 39
GAME WINNER ASSIST UPDATE Look at Justin Schultz and your Captain climbing to the top of the list – Geno has been stuck with 4 GWAs for a while now, maybe because the “lazy 4th line power play specialist” has been scoring goals like they’re going out of style. For those of you new to the sport, like our friend from french speaking canada – you can’t assist on your own goals. Malkin – 4 Crosby – 4 Schultz – 4 Cole – 3 Hornqvist – 3 Kessel – 3 Cullen – 2 Daley – 2 Letang – 2 Maatta… Read more »
Malkin and Schultz… two guys the sammich has shown a lot of hate on lol.
And let’s not forget – this is Sam’s stat – when blowing LeBrittle back in the playoffs last year, he used Game Winner Assists as the basis for his opinion. If only we could get NHL.com to do this, so I didn’t have to compile – because as our millennial friends have pointed out – this is such an arduous task. 😉
I hope the interest in the Avs forwards is a smokescreen. Pens need D. They have enough scoring.
Agreed, Letang leaves a massive hole even if he isnt playing his best hockey. And I dont think the Stone kid adds what this team is looking for either. They have a specific way they play, lets make sure any additions are strong with the puck and can skate.
.916… after a single night… wow.
The decline of Matt Murray. Definatelt happening too soon. Trade him while you can….I’m waiting for him to blame injury again, he’s due for another one. What a fraud.
Someone throw out some names of top 2 dman 24 yrs old or younger in deal for Murray, plus.
Dougie Hamilton
Sorry to make you sad Yoda but Wednesday fleury will be in net
don’t bet on it. st.bleury was equally as pathetic in his last 2 starts as murray was tonight. they’ve both given up 11 goals in their last two starts. funny how st.bleury gives up 11 in 2 starts and he gets a free pass from the cultists. murray gives up identical numbers and you guys are saying he is the worst ever. double standard.
#TriggeredFraud
Bahahahahaha… double standard? The Fucking irony of this coming out of your keyboard is unreal. Also, like sammich, you don’t understand the dynamic of the commentary… not surprising as you are an ignorant fool lol
i hope this goalie rotation isn’t screwing up murray. he was fundamentally awful tonight. that kid was lights out last year in the playoffs and awesome in the early part of this season. i hope the pens aren’t ruining his head by having him split time with the guy who will be bought out at seasons end. they should play murray next game too so he gets some consecutive action under his belt and try to get into a groove again.
Murray sucks ass. Next time he stops a shot cleanly without a rebound will be the first.
murray sucked ass tonight but he doesn’t suck. he’ll be fine
Can you imagine what you’d be saying if he stole your ass cherry and then didn’t call you the way fleury did? Yeah. I can too.
Let’s cut to the chase, I’ll take a #2 dman under age 24 for Murray.
be careful what you wish for. if the pens trade murray you are going to be stuck with the saint come playoff time.