Capitals vs. Penguins Recap: Caps Drop a Big One

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In what felt like a must win game, the Capitals could never seem to get consistent offense flowing, and consistent odd breaks and strong Penguin forechecks ultimately cost them a valuable win.

Here’s Wednesday night’s Plus/Minus:

• Plus: Well, at least Jay Beagle’s snipe was pretty nice.
• Minus: *Sighs eternally*

Ten more notes on the game:

• The Capitals came out with a little pep in their step, and Jay Beagle took full advantage of that, smacking a no-angle shot for a first-period goal.

Beagle scores! #CapsPens with 15:30 left in the 1st pic.twitter.com/AZeRLGC60v

— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016

• But then the Caps took their foot off the gas, and the Penguins proceeded to take full advantage of that, scoring a dribbler of a goal that fooled Holtby.

Pens tie it up #CapsPens 1-1 pic.twitter.com/T1ZZ3XEeGT

— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016

• A little bit of madness ensued, and as the first period drew to an end, Washington released a collective gasp.

Orlov launches an enemy into Holtby #CapsPens pic.twitter.com/xFwuaQTzRL

— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016

• In the second period, for whatever reason, Nicklas Backstrom let Matt Cullen beat him to a loose puck, sparking a break for an early second goal.

Cullen scores #CapsPens 1-2 pic.twitter.com/ipMNZW3yr6

— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016

• For a while, the game was definitely tilting in the Penguins favor, and the Capitals just couldn’t get anything going. They were getting pounded to the pucks, and occasionally pounded by Geno’s….

Malkin on Winnik. No call. pic.twitter.com/kO6OdwkDEF

— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016

• …But then we had something to get excited about, as Justin Williams found a wide open John Carlson for an essential layup.

Carlson scores!!!! #CapsPens 2-2 in the 2nd pic.twitter.com/Ds6koASI3g

— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016

• There was quite difference between the beginning of the third period and the majority of the second period. The Capitals were getting a flurry of scoring chances, but Matt Murray stood strong.
• Sidney Crosby exited the game following a hit on the hand by Alex Ovechkin. Crosby was not particularly happy about that

Crosby is mad #CapsPens pic.twitter.com/qM96LqBnYU

— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) May 5, 2016

But he’d ultimately come back.

• The Capitals and Penguins traded chances back and forth, but no one could find one, and we headed to overtime.
• But here’s your winner.

Hornqvist gets the OT winner and pushes the Caps to the brink of elimination pic.twitter.com/o49pwRWUEP

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 5, 2016

Game highlights: