WASHINGTON — Maybe it’s simply in the Penguins’ DNA to defeat the Capitals in Washington. It was so warm in Washington on Friday that it felt like playoff springtime — the Penguins have defeated the Capitals in eight of their 10 postseason meetings, after all — and muscle memory is a funny thing.
Or, maybe, just maybe, the Penguins found something.
The Penguins started fast, stumbled in the second period, but then dominated Washington in a responsible, workmanlike way that has been completely uncustomary this season, clamping down for a 4-2 victory. That third-period performance was something that Mike Sullivan had been looking for.
The head coach thinks that perhaps the Penguins did find something in those final 20 minutes.
“I thought we did,” Sullivan said. “I thought it was one of our more complete periods, just digging in, playing a team game. I’m really proud of the guys.”
On the surface, this game had all the makings of another loss for a team that can’t afford too many more setbacks. Only 24 hours earlier, the Penguins fell in Raleigh to the Hurricanes, 5-1. And while that loss wasn’t as lopsided as the score indicated, it still ended the Penguins’ three-game streak generating at least a point, and they were forced to play a rested, hot Capitals team the following night.
Making matters worse, after a very strong first period, the Penguins blew a two-goal lead for the fifth time in 10 games.
They lost the other four times in which it happened.
Not this time.
Bryan Rust, returning from injury after a 12-day absence, barged his way to the net in the third period and, a moment later, Evgeni Malkin banged home the game-winner.
It’s Malk-IN the net! pic.twitter.com/4QDdtgsekt
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 9, 2024
The Penguins did not allow a shot in the first eight minutes of the third period, out-shot the Capitals 10-6 in the final 20 minutes and played a professional, responsible brand of defense that hasn’t exactly been their trademark during the first month of this season.
“We probably knew we needed this one,” Rust said. “In the locker room, we weren’t too happy with how the second period went.”
The first period saw the Penguins start fast. Erik Karlsson, one night after a putrid performance against Carolina, received a pretty feed from Malkin in the slot and beat Charlie Lindgren to give the Penguins the lead just 3:11 into regulation.
Karlsson ripped this one home from right between the circles 💪 pic.twitter.com/R3pirJei2F
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 9, 2024
Less than four minutes later, Karlsson executed a stunning pass to Michael Bunting, who redirected the offering to make it 2-0.
Go to the net and good things will happen! pic.twitter.com/B16eiwBqwI
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 9, 2024
However, Rasmus Sandin gave the Capitals life a couple of minutes later.
The second period saw the Capitals claw back in convincing fashion and they evened the game on Andrew Mangiapane’s goal.
Given how this season has gone and that the Penguins were on the second night of a back-to-back set, it had all the makings for yet another disappointing third period. This time, though, the Penguins handled themselves in nearly flawless fashion.
Even when they made their one big mistake of the period — Valtteri Puustinen took an offensive zone penalty with 6:38 remaining in the third — the penalty-killing unit, led by shot-blocking tenacity from Noel Acciari and Drew O’Connor, snuffed the Capitals.
When there was anything resembling a Capitals’ threat, impressive rookie Joel Blomqvist was there to slam the door shut. He stopped 32 of 34 shots in what could be his final start before returning to Wilkes-Barre, which is expected when and if the Penguins recall Tristan Jarry, which could happen as soon as this weekend.
“It was a great blueprint for a team game,” Sullivan said.
Ten postgame observations
• This was, without question, the Penguins’ finest victory of the season.
Consider that their only other wins came against the Red Wings, Canadiens (twice), Sabres and Ducks. Not exactly a murderers’ row.
This was different. The Capitals have been surprisingly impressive this season and certainly had all of the momentum following the second period. They were fresh. And playing on home ice.
What the Penguins did in the third period not only showed an intelligent brand of hockey that hasn’t been evident this season, but it also was a display of some serious guts, mentally and physically.
It was a very nice win and Sullivan is right. This is a blueprint for how the Penguins should be playing all the time. Why they don’t, I have no clue. It’s a puzzling team to figure out. While their roster obviously isn’t as powerful as it once was, the Penguins lose most of their games because of sometimes outrageous, self-inflicted wounds. When they play responsible hockey, they look like a pretty fair team.
• Sullivan pulled the trigger during the second intermission, breaking up the top line of Sidney Crosby, Malkin and Rickard Rakell.
It was a matter of time. The Penguins simply don’t have the depth to keep Malkin and Crosby together for long stretches of time. Unless those two go on a scoring spree, the Penguins aren’t going to keep up offensively in such a configuration.
Sullivan went with Crosby centering Rakell and O’Connor in the third period, while Malkin was flanked by Bryan Rust and Bunting.
The plan worked. I’ve always loved Malkin on the same line as Rust because I believe that Rust’s straight-line game complements Malkin particularly well.
• Speaking of Rust, having him back in the lineup was welcome.
You saw it on Malkin’s goal. It was classic Rust, the way he marched to the net on his backhand. He does it all the time, but there’s only so much a team can do against it. If you’re as fast as Rust is and willing to destroy your body by going to the net as he does, well, it’s a difficult thing to stop.
Before the game, Sullivan commented that Rust gets hurt frequently because of the high-danger game he plays. It’s an attribute that Sullivan respects greatly. You basically keep your fingers crossed and hope he stays healthy. When Rust is in the lineup, the Penguins are a substantially better, deeper hockey team.
• This was the Karlsson the Penguins have been waiting to see.
No, it wasn’t a defensive masterpiece by any stretch. He was on the ice for both goals against and looked bad attempting to defend a two-on-one when Mangiapane evened the game.
We love Mange goals.
We especially love Mange goals at home because “Be My Lover” is played every time after. pic.twitter.com/jAJXKmhNBR
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 9, 2024
But that’s OK. Seriously. If Karlsson produces the magic with the puck that he did in this game, you can forgive some defensive lapses.
He was brilliant with the puck on his blade. Sullivan referred to Karlsson as a “one-man breakout” after the game, and that’s about right. Seemingly every pass he made was crisp and perfect.
I imagine Sullivan had a chat with Karlsson following the game in Raleigh. The coaching staff was not thrilled with his performance.
This is the Karlsson the Penguins need moving forward. He was outrageously good with the puck.
• The Penguins did a really nice job against Alex Ovechkin. He had five shots on goal, and a couple of them were threatening, but in general, the Penguins looked like a team that has faced him a time or two over the years.
In particular, the Penguins’ penalty killing was outstanding against Ovechkin, knowing precisely how much to shade to his side of the ice without giving the other four Capitals too much room in which to operate.
• This is no knock on Ovi and not intended as one in any way. But it’s interesting to me that, when discussing the Crosby/Ovechkin rivalry, many don’t discuss how one-sided it’s been.
This was the 70th regular season game between the two titans. Crosby’s Penguins have won 41 of the 70 games. With an assist on Friday, Crosby has 91 points, compared to Ovechkin’s 67.
Crosby’s Penguins have won three of the four playoff series between the two.
While Washington did finally win a battle in the 2018 playoff series, make no mistake, Crosby’s Penguins won the battle.
Ovechkin is an all-time great, obviously, and has enjoyed his share of huge games against the Penguins. I think, though, when analyzing the rivalry years from now, we’ll be surprised by how one-sided the numbers have been in Crosby’s favor. It goes a little under-reported.
• The Penguins don’t have much choice but to send Blomqvist back to Wilkes-Barre. They have to find out about Jarry. It’s just the way it is.
But Blomqvist looks like an NHL goalie to me. Really solid effort tonight.
• That penalty Puustinen took was unacceptable. He’s been pretty invisible and I don’t believe he’ll be in the lineup for long, should Kevin Hayes or Cody Glass get healthy anytime soon.
• You know who’s playing pretty well right now? Ryan Graves. Really. He’s been pretty solid for a couple of weeks now.
• Watching these teams is always special and there are only so many battles left between Crosby and Ovechkin.
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
