WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Penguins, consistently inconsistent, put forth another incomplete effort Thursday. But as has typically been the case over the last couple of weeks, they managed to skate away with something in the standings.
The Penguins rallied in the late stages of the third period to pick up one point but they lost, 3-2, to the Washington Capitals in a shootout at Capital One Arena.
“We’ve done a pretty good job of fighting and battling. It’s a nightly thing,” Sidney Crosby said after Pittsburgh extended its point streak to six games. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re consistent. But we’ve been competing hard and finding ways. And we’ve got to find another level here going on the stretch run.”
Bryan Rust tied the score, 2-2, with 7:08 left in regulation. Skating in on the rush, he caught Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper cheating and snapped a short-side shot over the goalie’s glove. Not a bad way to notch his 300th career point.
That goal sent the Penguins into OT for the fifth time in their last six games.
Casey DeSmith, still looking to win back-to-back starts for just the second time this season, stood tall as the Penguins killed a 4-on-3 power play in overtime.
Kuemper stuffed Brian Dumoulin at the buzzer to necessitate a shootout. Nicklas Backstrom’s goal in the third round won it for Washington by a 2-1 margin.
The Penguins have won just four of their 13 games that went beyond regulation. But they played sound 3-on-3 hockey Thursday before taking that penalty.
“That’s definitely been an emphasis for us,” Dumoulin said. “We know these are crucial points now with a lot of tight games. It’s still a place we’ve got to get better at. But I thought our 4-on-3 kill was really good and gave us a chance.”
Yes, even in late January, this was a game that could have ramifications come April. The Penguins and Capitals, who presently occupy the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference standings, both entered the night with 56 points.
The Capitals were shot out of a cannon Thursday. They drilled Dumoulin and then Jake Guentzel on the first shift, threw several other heavy hits and used their cycle game to hem the Penguins in their defensive zone for long stretches.
Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal from his sweet spot in the left circle to put the Penguins in another early hole. Their killers were wary of the No. 2 scorer in NHL history and his wicked right-handed one-timer, shading a forward over to him throughout the power play. But all it took was one lapse and bang.
With the Penguins on their heels for much of that period, the Capitals had ample opportunity to add to their lead. A pair of pipes and 21 saves from DeSmith let the visitors escape to their dressing room down just 1-0 after 20 minutes.
“You’re down, you’re one mistake away from putting yourself in a really bad spot,” Crosby said of their poor starts. “I think when you’re up, you kind of give yourself that leeway. So, yeah, it would be nice to get better starts and get leads.”
Storm weathered, they tied it up early in the second. The fourth line, which chipped in two goals in Tuesday’s 7-6 win against Florida, got them on the board. It was a softy but counts the same. Kuemper misplayed a long shot and let the puck lay in the blue paint. Danton Heinen swooped in and slammed it into the net.
He has goals in consecutive games after going the previous 34 without one.
Heinen’s tally helped tip momentum toward the Penguins, who generated 18 shots and significantly more puck possession in the offensive zone that period.
The Capitals regained the lead 5:17 into the third period when Marcus Johansson launched a wrist shot from atop the left circle over DeSmith’s empty glove.
Setting aside that go-ahead goal, which was deflected at the release point and fooled DeSmith, it was a strong response after he faltered in Tuesday’s surprise start. The goalie made a few difficult stops in the first, swept across his crease to stuff Ovechkin late in the second and finished with a season-high 43 saves.
“He was terrific tonight,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He gave us a chance to win.”
ICE CHIPS
-- Asked if he is a fan of shootouts, DeSmith quipped, “Depends on if I win or not.” He tipped his hat to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who skated down the ice at glacial pace before beating him in the second round. “It’s a good move. He can shoot it at any time. He can hold it. He can deke,” DeSmith said. “It’s definitely tough.”
-- Crosby wasn’t pleased that Evgeni Malkin was penalized in OT, halting his team’s momentum. Speaking about the importance of the game for both Metropolitan rivals, the captain said, “I’d think the officials would [recognize it], too, right?”
-- Josh Archibald and Kasperi Kapanen took part in the optional morning skate in Washington but didn’t play Thursday. Meanwhile, Tristan Jarry and Jan Rutta, who are both out through the All-Star break, didn’t travel here with the team.
-- Teddy Blueger was in the lineup Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s practice. Pittsburgh’s healthy scratches were Jonathan Gruden and Mark Friedman.
-- Blueger and DeSmith exchanged heated words during the morning skate before being separated by teammates. Blueger downplayed the incident. He said, rather unconvincingly, that the longtime teammates were “just messing around.”
-- Conor Sheary, now with the Capitals, played his 500th NHL game Thursday.
STAT N’AT
3 – games in a row in which the Penguins allowed their opponent to score first.
THEY SAID IT
“That was a big goal there by Rusty. We were coming back all night. It was a tight game with chances on both sides. I think we can still tighten up a little bit. But we battled hard,” Dumoulin said. “Nothing really came easy tonight. We salvaged a point but you want to get two. We’ll focus on the next game now.”
COMING UP
The Penguins have canceled Friday’s practice. Saturday’s home game against the San Jose Sharks is their final game before the All-Star break.
Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel.
First Published: January 27, 2023, 2:56 a.m.
Updated: January 27, 2023, 2:43 p.m.
