It’s not news to anyone that the Caps are struggling on the power play; it’s been a frequent topic of discussion here and elsewhere and definitely in the Capitals’ locker room. Unfortunately the power play issues have overshadowed the fact that the team has also not been that great while shorthanded, either – and while they’d been on a bit of a streak of penalty-killing success coming into last night’s game, both the PK and PP issues were on full display in the loss to the Penguins.
The Caps fell behind in the first period thanks to the penalty kill being unable to contain Sidney Crosby, as the Penguins’ captain put up two goals on two consecutive power plays. After an Anthony Mantha even-strength goal, the Caps clawed their way back to a 3-3 tie…and at the start of the third period, they were given every opportunity to take the lead as the Penguins took two penalties in the first ten minutes.
The power play, however, was once again silent.
The same could not be said for the Penguins, who got their own chance on the power play – their fifth of the night – to cancel out the Caps’ extra-man opportunity. They took full advantage of that man advantage, pulled back into the lead (this time courtesy of Bryan Rust, so at least it wasn’t a Crosby hat trick…small miracles). A John Carlson turnover flipped what had been a great play by #74 into a forehead-smacking moment and then a Penguins go-ahead goal that just rips the soul out. So let’s watch it again, shall we??
The Caps failed to find the equalizer, and the Pens grabbed the empty-netter to nail the coffin shut with just over two minutes left in regulation.
A bummer of a loss, to be sure, and certainly painful given the opponent for the evening – but even more painful because the loss was a seemingly avoidable one. Last night’s game was a clear sign that the special teams need some major work. They continue to lose games almost entirely because of the lackluster power play, the ineffective penalty kill, or in last night’s case, both – and while it’s still early in the season, it will get late faster than you expect. They can’t afford to waste any more time.