[AP Recap – Game Summary – Event Summary – WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
To paraphrase our friends from the Steel City not too long ago, don’t both sides have to do some winning for something to be a rivalry?
The Caps – almost every single one of ’em – showed up on Saturday and made rather quick work of a Pens team that was wrapping up a brutal road back-to-back (Saturday afternoon they won in Philly) for their fourth win in the last five match ups with Pittsburgh.
For the non-local media, the story was once again Alex vs. Sid (see this morning’s Clips), but for Caps fans who’ve been paying attention, the real story was that the Caps showed up and took care of business at home against a team they should beat.
It was by no means perfect – three minor penalties in each period, a shaky start for the goalie on whom all hopes are pinned – but it was both satisfying and relieving, especially with another, tougher rival up next on the schedule.
Some thoughts on the game:
There’s plenty more to take away on the specifics of this game, but much of it was discussed in the 500+ comment open thread and the 150+ comment post-game thread, so go read up or chat it up in the comments here.
Bottom line: message sent, message received – the train seems to be back on the tracks… for now, at least.