[AP Recap – Game Summary – Event Summary – WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
Technically speaking, Simeon Varlamov didn’t steal last night’s game for the Capitals – but it would have been hard for him to have been closer.
Make no mistake about it: the Capitals did not deserve to win last night’s game after spending the vast majority of it – overtime included – chasing the Penguins around their own zone, a fact that shows up in the game’s lopsided statistics. The Capitals were outshot 42-23, out-hit 44-31, and had two powerplays to the Penguins seven, a statistic that is in and of itself indicative of just how lopsided the flow of play was and how much of the game was spent in the Capitals’ end.
To certain extent tonight’s result is not only unsurprising, but perhaps even expected. After all, everyone knew this was going to be a tight, hard-fought series and everyone knew there was a very small chance of a sweep for either team. Add that to the desperate situation the Penguins were in and the home ice advantage, and it would have been awfully difficult for the Capitals to come out on top.
Some additional thoughts on last night’s game:
The Capitals had to have headed into Pittsburgh with the goal of taking at least one of the two games and coming home in a position to end the series. That goal is still within reach. There’s just a little less of a margin for error now.