Capitals Blank Penguins 3-0, Stay Alive for Playoffs
In round 2 of the Washington Capitals-Pittsburgh Penguins weekend matchup, the Capitals blanked Pittsburgh 3-0 when their opponents weren’t shorthanded. While Washington’s playoff chances are low, they took a vital two points over the playoff-bound Pittsburgh on April 12.
It was possibly the last home game in the storied career of Alex Ovechkin, and he played it against his longtime rival, the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby. They faced off at the beginning of the game.
The Capitals also had some help. The New York Islanders lost to the Montreal Canadiens on April 12, eliminating them from the NHL Playoffs, while the Columbus Blue Jackets fell to the Boston Bruins. There are now three ways for Washington to make the playoffs, which will be discussed later.
Game Recap: Penguins Struggle, Thompson Pulls Through
Capitals Goalie Logan Thompson made 24 saves against the playoff-bound Pittsburgh, who played much better with a full roster. They did, however, manage to score more goals than on April 11, when they held back several of their top players to rest them. Thompson was clearly playing sharper, and his team’s offense did a good job as well to blank their opponents.
Washington’s Pierre-Luc Dubois did play after leaving the ice with an upper-body injury in the second period in Round 1, though he didn’t take any faceoffs. Rasmus Sandin, a key part of the team, did not play after sustaining a lower-body injury in the same game, not a good sign for him or the Capitals.
Cole Hutson also left the ice briefly during the first period with a foot injury, but returned to make a faceoff later on in the period. In the first period, the Capitals got a puck into the net with 40 seconds to go, but the goal was voided because players were offside. The Capitals led the Penguins in shots 9-8 after the first period.
Dubois bounced back from injury well, getting an assist on a second-period goal from Trevor van Riemsdyck. It was only van Riemsdyck’s third goal of the season. Tom Wilson of the Capitals left the ice after taking a puck on the leg while blocking a shot, and the Penguins led shots 21-20 after the second period. Thompson made a few huge saves to keep the score 1-0 for Washington, and Ovechkin saw two of his shots blocked.
Second-year Washington player Connor McMicheal scored twice, his 13th and 14th goals of the season. The second was on an empty-netter late into the third period, and he also assisted on van Riemsdyck’s goal for a three-point game. It wasn’t a great day out for the Penguins, and they will need to sharpen their game for the NGL Playoffs.
The Capitals’ Playoff Qualification Paths
In frank terms, the Capitals will need to be on the top of their game to make the playoffs, and other teams will have to perform badly, specifically the Flyers. The current Metropolitan Division standings behind the already-qualified Penguins and the first-place Carolina Hurricanes are: Flyers 3rd with 94 points, Capitals 4th with 93 points, and the Blue Jackets 5th with 92 points.
If the Flyers score two standings points in their next two games, they will clinch a playoff spot. Philadelphia plays the dominant Hurricanes on April 13, so it’s going to be a tall order to get a win, but anything can happen in hockey.
For the Capitals to qualify, they will have to beat the Blue Jackets (whether in regulation or overtime) on April 14, and the Flyers will only have to score one point in two games. Washington would win the tiebreaker on regulation wins.
If the Capitals win in regulation against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday and the Flyers lose both games in regulation, Washington makes the playoffs with no tiebreaker needed. If the Capitals lose in overtime or a shootout against the Blue Jackets and the Flyers lose twice in regulation, the Capitals win the playoff spot on a tiebreaker.
All that Washington can do now is play their best. As for the Penguins, they will end their regular season against the St. Louis Blues on April 14, then play on home ice to start the Stanley Cup season against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
