Penguins Ground Capitals Offensive Attack When it Mattered

The Washington Capitals had some bad luck in this series.

It’s not just the underlying numbers that say it but the eye test also showed it.

In Game 7, though, there was no bad luck hovering around the Capitals.

The Pittsburgh Penguins just wanted it more and looked like a team that’s been there before.

“I don’t think the urgency was there,” said Alex Ovechkin, who is now 0-3 all-time against Pittsburgh and 3-7 in Game 7’s during his career.

Stunning omission from Ovechkin who was a non-factor for a Capitals team that had so much on the line.

Ovechkin wasn’t the only Capital stating the facts that Washington didn’t play with urgency despite being on the stage of a Game 7.

Again with the Capitals, something just isn’t right here with how good and talented they often are, yet, they haven’t even gotten over the hump of the second round during the Alex Ovechkin era.

The Capitals looked so passive at times defensively, they were playing scared to make a mistake, and offensively they looked to be pressing with chances in tight during the first two periods.

“Last year, we were in a close game, played well in Game 6 and [lose in] overtime,” said goaltender Braden Holtby……. “I think tonight, I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance and we’re going to have to live with that and take full responsibility for that. It’s not what we worked for.”

The Stunning development in Game 7 wasn’t the Penguins coming out on top but how little push there was from the Capitals in the third period.

The Penguins locked down defensively but also kept pushing offensively.

As the clock kept ticking in the third, Pittsburgh looked like a world class boxer who smelled defeat in their opponent. That could have been at the minimum, a two or three goal period for the Penguins.

“You can see they have the pedigree of a Cup champion,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said afterwards of the Penguins.

Shots on goal by the Capitals in third:

3:50 (Karl Alzner)
6:01 (Dmitry Orlov)
13:19 (Evgeny Kuznetsov)
15:04 (John Carlson)
19:05 (T.J. Oshie)
19:51 (Alex Ovechkin)

The Capitals down 2-0 after the Patric Hornqvist goal , went over 7 minutes without a shot during one stretch and then 4:01 without a shot during another.

Pittsburgh held Ovechkin, who had 3 shots in the first two periods, to 0 shots for the first 19:51 of the third period.

What can’t get overlooked is how the Penguins neutralized Nicklas Backstrom in Game 7.

Backstrom in Games 5 and 6, elevated his game in the third period but not tonight.

0 shots on goal in the game and just 2 attempts.

Penguins Got Back to winning the Neutral Zone

Key adjustments for the Penguins in Game 7 was a critical one in winning the neutral zone, something they badly needed to happen and led to the Penguins counter-punching from the middle of the ice more often.

Mike Sullivan is not a big trap guy but Jacques Martin is.[hide]

The Penguins gave the Capitals a different look in running a 1-2-2 but it wasn’t just a sitting back 1-2-2.

They remained aggressive and what the new look did was slow up the Capitals transition game. There was a lot less rush sequences from the Capitals after beating the first wave.

Personnel decisions from Mike Sullivan also paid off tonight.

Carter Rowney gave the Penguins more than Tom Kuhnhackl has been 5 v 5 and Rowney did a lot of the little things well, kept plays alive, and had strong wall play. Was exceptional in using his size.

Scott Wilson replacing Carl Hagelin in the lineup also turned in a strong game. The 4th line was a lot more noticeable in creating offense than it has been.

“This is hands down the best game we’ve played in this year’s playoffs,” Mike Sullivan said.

Hard to disagree with that.

Eastern Conference Final Schedule

Game 1 @ Pittsburgh: Saturday, May 13 | 7:00 p.m. |
Game 2 @ Pittsburgh: Monday, May 15 | 8:00 p.m. |
Game 3 @ Ottawa: Wednesday, May 17 | 8:00 p.m. |
Game 4 @ Ottawa: Friday, May 19 | 8:00 p.m. |
Game 5 @ Pittsburgh: Sunday, May 21 | 3:00 p.m. |
Game 6: @ Ottawa: Tuesday, May 23 | 8:00 p.m. |
Game 7 @ Pittsburgh: Thursday, May 25 | 8:00 p.m. |[/hide]

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