Caps Take Penguins to Overtime Shootout
By Rodger M. WoodThe hard play of veteran forward Alex Ovechkin and defenseman Mike Green ignited Caps teammates to play their best game of the season against Sidney Crosby and his hard charging Pittsburgh Penguins before a capacity crowd at the Verizon Center last night.Alex O’s hard check on Evevgi Malkin in the first minute of play set the tone for the game, telling opposing Penguins he and the Caps were there to play them tough.Making bone breaking checks on Penguins forwards Crosby, Malkin, and other opposing forwards, while playing 31+ minutes of strong defense, veteran Cap defenseman, Mike Green made sure the Penguins got Alex O’s message.Midway through the second period, Green topped his strong defensive effort off with a goal to tie the game 1-1, and midway through overtime, appeared to have stuffed the game winning goal behind Penguins goalie Marc Andre Fleury, only to have the goal disallowed on review.
Killing a penalty at the 14.31 mark of the third period, Caps center Brooks Laich, set up Mike Knuble’s shorthanded goal to tie the game at 2-2.Throughout the game, Caps newly acquired stay at home defenseman, Scott Hannan added a steadying Influence in front of rookie goaltender, Michael Neuvirth, who seemed to thrive under the game’s pressure, stopping 25 shots, and Malkin’s unnerving penalty shot In the second period.While the Caps had their opportunities to win on 5-3 and other man advantages situations, the game was a 2-2 tie at the end of overtime, forcing the Caps and Penguins into a shootout to decide this hard fought contest.Scoring on the Caps first shootout try, Alex O. gave the home team a chance to win, but Penguin defenseman Kris Letang tied it next frame, and Dupuis won it for the Penguins in the seventh frame.While the Caps got only a point in the standings for all their effort, the Caps’ hard play showed the visiting team the bite, which will make the Winter Classic Game a “must game” for all hockey fans on New Years Day.
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