Washington Capitals shutouts a frozen Pittsburgh Penguins by 3-0 – NHL Updates
Not much excitement is expected in NFL Super bowl Sunday from the NHL, but that wasn’t the case in the match between Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. In the afternoon match in Washington DC, the two old rivals went on the ice, each wanting to
not only win but to humiliate the other, and that is exactly what happened as Capitals totally shutout the already injured Penguins by 3-0.
"They don't like us. We don't like them", Washington’s coach, Chris Boudreau, said. "That's the way it should be".
Usually teams who play on a super bowl day get together afterwards to watch one of America’s biggest events but this was probably the last thing on everyone’s minds.
Washington Capitals is improving unlike the Washington Government
In the last three days, Washington has won two times and has gained 2 points improving its rank in the Eastern Conference.
On Friday they played against the number 2 team of the Eastern Conference, Tampa Bay Lightning, who they defeated in an impressive 5-2 showdown.
At the moment, Capitals stand 5th in the conference, 4 points under Pittsburgh but showing signs of improvement as it can beat all the teams above them with ease.
An injured team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Winners of the 2009 Stanley cup, Pittsburgh Penguins is one of NHL’s most famous and talented teams.
Standing 3rd in the Eastern Conference, the No. 1 position isn’t far as it is only 3 points shy, but Penguins has had some problems with injuries this season causing it to slow down.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, both key players are out with a concussion and knee-related injury, respectively.
Lazy first period
It was a leisurely start to the shutout game when Brooks Laich scored a backhand goal with under 2 minutes to go in the first, making it the 11th of the season.
Moments after that it was a terrifying split second for Mike Green when the slap shot puck by Pittsburgh defenseman, Brooks Orpik, hit him straight in his right ear causing his early departure from the match with a bloody ear.
Avenging Green
It was all Capitals from there on, grabbing a flawed pass in the second period by Kris Letang of Penguins, Marcus Johansson covered the ice full distance backhanding a shot over the shoulder of a distracted Marc-Andre Fleury into the net.
Johansson was termed by Washington’s coach, Bruce, as the spark which ignited an inferno in the whole team.
Michal Neuvirth was the Man of the Match for Capitals, making 22 perfect saves to lock down Penguins for his second shutout of the season.
Capitals knew it had won by the end of the second period but Mike Knuble added an empty net shot with less than 45 seconds remaining to add salt to all those emotional bruises given to Penguins.
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