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Capitals vs. Penguins Recap: Caps Can't Close Comeback, Pass Pens 4-3 Victory in OT

The Washington Capitals could not complete the comeback on Thursday night in D.C., falling to their hated rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in overtime.

By Jason Rogers (HeyJayJRogers)
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Ice Tracker - Game Summary - Event Summary - Shot Report - Faceoff Summary - Play-by-Play - Home TOI - Visitor TOI - Advanced Stats at: war-on-ice, hockeystats, Natural Stat Trick and more via Nice Time On Ice

The Capitals couldn't close an otherwise brave and noble comeback, negating a 3-0 second period deficit and forcing an overtime before losing to Pittsburgh on a Sidney Crosby game-winner.

Here's Thursday night's Plus/Minus:

  • Plus: Marcus Johansson got back on the scoresheet with a vengence, notching two goals to bring his season total to 17.
  • Minus: Losing. To. The. Penguins. Man.

And now, this...

Ten more notes on the game:

  • This game started off with all the notoriety of a fart in church. Just fifty seconds into the contest, Matt Cullen beat Braden Holtby after Nate Schmidt may or may not have blown an assignment.
  • The second period was somehow even stinkier. The period began with a Capitals powerplay that was promptly shat upon by unconfirmed demon Matt Cullen, who got his second goal of the night and a shorty to make it 2-0 for the Penguins.
  • Minutes later, Tom Wilson commited a boarding penalty that...look, I can't defend it. It was dangerous, and all too characteristic of much of Wilson's undisciplined play all season. I'll let you fine folks decide whether or not the cost-benefit analysis on Willy is beginning to shift for Trotz.
  • On what felt like the millionth odd-man rush for Pittsburgh, Conor Sheary beat Holtby to make it 3-0. General teeth-gnashing and gods-cursing began in and around Washington.
  • With a little over two minutes left in the Doom Frame, darling Swede Marcus Johansson defibrillated the Capitals with a #Gritty stuff home to make it 3-1 Capitals before the second intermission.
  • Halfway through the final frame, DIY big box big boy Marcus Johansson ripped a wicked wrister to cut the Pens' lead to one and made it 3-2 Pittsburgh.
  • Three minutes later, sexy barely legal (drinking age) heartthrob Andre Burakovsky turned his stick into a ramp a la the classic video game Burnout to miraculously tie the game 3-3.
  • Despite being down 3-0 more than halfway through the second period, the Capitals' maybe-kinda-sorta noble comeback would send this tete-a-tete to overtime.
  • But all is fleeting an we are naught but motes of insignificant dust in an unfathomably large and uncaring maelstrom, and Sidney Crosby beat Braden Holtby on the backhand to win this game for the Devil.
  • Beer is good.

There are two games left in the regular season. Braden Holtby still does not have his record, and there's a rank smell in the air. This is still the best team in the NHL, make no mistake. But...well, that's just it: but.

Game highlights:

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Capitals vs. Penguins: Game 80 of 82

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