The Washington Capitals are getting into the holiday season early as they gifted the Pittsburgh Penguins a win tonight. The Penguins had entered the game losers of their last 7 games, which perhaps contributed to the cavalier approach by the home team. A subpar effort by the usually reliable Darcy Kuemper did not help the home team’s cause.
After a scoreless first period, the Capitals would completely implode in a horrid second period. Jason Zucker scored on a wrist shot at 7:43. The goal was completely on Kuemper as he would misplay it completely and let it slither through his legs and then knock it in with his own momentum. Five minutes later the Capitals were awarded a power play. However the result was far from desired as Penguins forward Brock McGinn would be the recipient of a turnover by Erik Gustafsson and put the shorthanded goal in through Kuemper’s legs.
Penguins defenseman Jeff Petry would score on a point shot several minutes later. The shot was tracked poorly by Kuemper as he appeared to move the wrong way on the coverage. The Capitals offense came to some sort of life at 12:22 of the third period when Marcus Johansson would finally break the drought. The snap shot was one of barely a handful that could be considered a high danger chance. Jake Guentzel would finalize the result with an empty netter at 18:24. For all of the final period the Penguins would play with only 4 defensemen due to injuries. Despite the bench advantage, the Capitals failed to mount an effective attack.
NOTES: Sonny Milano would be credited with an assist on Johansson’s goal. This is his first point as Washington Capital. The Capitals have now lost five of their last six games. Washington concludes its home stand Friday night the 1tth against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 PM ET.
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