Penguins/NHL
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
