Pittsburgh Penguins win sixth straight after 4-3 OT win over Washington Capitals - NHL Update
Evgeni Malkin cannot stop scoring and the Pittsburgh Penguins continued their brilliant form to continue moving up the Eastern Conference with a 4-3 overtime victory over Washington Capitals at the CONSOL Energy Center on Sunday, January 22, 2012.
Penguins have now won six games in a row, thanks to Malkin and his wonderful form.
The Russian star once again was the key to Pittsburgh’s resurgence, with his overtime winning goal as Penguins consolidated their playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
Pittsburgh moved up to sixth with a 27-17-4 record and 58 points and improved their home ice form as they remain unbeaten for three games at the CONSOL Energy Center.
"I have great confidence now, you know?" Malkin said. "You win six games, I think everyone has great confidence now. I just am enjoying the game, you know? And having fun."
The Capitals who put in a good but ultimately futile performance lost their second straight game in a row and have now lost three out their last four games to drop to eighth in the Eastern Conference.
Washington’s record after this latest setback stands at 25-19-3 with 53 points keeping above the inconsistent Toronto Maple Leafs by two points.
Capitals coach Dale Hunter was happy with his team’s performance and in a show of good sportsmen spirit praised Malkin’s winner.
"We battled, we had our chances just like they did," Hunter said. "Malkin slips away for a second on the back boards, you know, not a pass or anything, just a shot and he's a good player and good players score like that."
The Penguins started off brilliantly notching up a two goal lead in the first six minutes. At 4:51 Kris Letang took full advantage of the power play to open the scoring as he beat Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth.
A minute later Malkin setup James Neal for his 25th goal of the season to make it 2-0 as the Penguins turned on the style outshooting their opponents 9-4 in the first period.
The Capitals got their own two goal period and tied the score at 2-2. Brooks Laich beat Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre-Fleury at 11:02 as he put in a rebound off Dennis Wideman’s shot.
Three minutes later Alexander Semin got the Capitals right back in the game as the visitors equalised. The Capitals then took the lead in the third period.
At 1:07, Alex Ovechkin took the puck from Alexander Semin and blasted a wonderful shot into the net to bring the Capitals up three goals to two.
The visitors lead however, would be short-lived as the Penguins fired in a quick equaliser to send the game to overtime with James Neal scoring his second of the game with another assist by Malkin.
The Russian forward in overtime got on the score sheet for the first time as just a minute into overtime he fired in the winner as the crowd raised the roof in the CONSOL Energy Center.
James Neal had setup Paul Martin, whose powerful shot was parried by Neuvirth, but Malkin was in the right place at the right time to convert the rebound and give the Penguins a well deserved victory.
The Penguins would now look to make it seven games in a row but would face a stern test away to the St. Louis Blues while the Capitals face the inform Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
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