I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that though I know that the Capitals are a better team, there are several of my family members who, for whatever reason, bleed black and gold--rather than red, white and blue. It adds a whole another level of perplexity to an already overly-intense match-up. Text messages and Facebook wars are all a part of the rivalry, and I'm sure they can be expected all the way through New Years, as I'll be joining the family in Steel City for the Winter Classic.
Sure enough, my phone lit up when there was a score. And there you have it, the answer to this week's poll: who will score first, Washington or Pittsburgh? Though it makes me happy that both the votes in the poll were for Washington, those who voted (aka Tim and me) were wrong. Pittsburgh started it off with a goal from none other than Sidney Crosby, the most hated man in the district, at least today at any rate. The Pens set themselves up for a strong first period. Marc Andre-Fluery looked sharp from the drop of the puck. Sometimes, if you're lucky, he can be shaken off his game and you can wring an early goal out of him. But, no early goals for Washington. In a quick moving first period, the Caps burned three power play opportunities, including a brief 5 v.3 and a prolonged 4 v.3. Pittsburgh struck just once, but it was enough to give them a lead for the whole period. The physicality of both teams resulted in several elbows, high sticks, and even a boarding or two that went un-called. Big hits were a theme of the game. Ovechkin on Malkin, Malkin on Ovechkin, Kennedy on Carlson, Letang on Ovechkin; as Capitals forward Jason Chimera says, "sometimes games are a little more physical than others, this is a big rivalry, so this is a pretty physical game". And so it was. An attendee in the penalty box was assisted off the ice to the Capitals medical room where she received twelve stitches in the temple after being hit by a stray puck. Tom Poti also disappeared into the dressing room after being clipped up high, and was not seen for the remainder of the game.
The second period was no less eventful than the first. Nuevirth stopped a penalty shot by Evgeni Malkin, and seemed to spark life into his team. Through two periods the Caps dominated the Pens with 25-12 shots, giving Pittsburgh only 5 scoring opportunities. The Caps second two man advantage came from a play that you're not likely to see again. Matt Cook cleared the puck from deep in the corner of the Pittsburgh zone, and lifted it over the glass above Michael Nuevirth's head. Luckily for the Caps, they were able to convert. Mike Green scored his first goal in fourteen games. Green's goal seemed to instill a new found sense of urgency in each team. Hits became more intense, shots more sporadic, and Marc-Andre Fluery looked like a Mexican jumping-bean turned loose.
The third period was a different story. Pittsburgh scored thirty seconds in, making it 2-1. Not a minute later, Pittsburgh got their second power play of the game. The last twenty minutes was a parade to the penalty box for the Caps, as they gave up more than two power plays in a span of seven minutes. The Caps looked absolutely exhausted, as they killed of several critical penalties. Mike Knuble scored short-handed, assisted by Brooks Laich, tying the game 2-2 with five minutes left in regulation. The last five minutes were some of the loudest of the game, with the chants of the crowd canceling out the whistles and at some points even the announcers, the game made its way to overtime.
It was run and gun hockey, and it came down to Mike Green and a spectacular individual effort. Weaving his way through the slot, he shot (and undeniably scored) the puck past Marc Andre-Fluery in what would have been certain high-light reel material. But, "upon further review" there was inconclusive evidence as to whether the puck actually crossed the line. (However, I would like to point out that Fluery's webbing is white, and in the video it's black when it's across the goal line. Just saying.) Ultimately it came down to a shootout. Ovechkin (who I always cringe when I see him in the shootout lineup) scored, then Letang scored nearly the same goal. Alex Semin missed, as did Crosby, Backstrom and then Malkin, forcing a second round of the shootout. Mike Knuble and Mark Letesto also missed. Exhaustion was apparent in both teams. Laich and Kunitz also missed. The puck trailed off of the stick of Perreault, letting the grudge match go on. Six men in, Kennedy and Green also missed. Pascal DuPuis won it for Pittsburgh as the fourteenth shooter. And once again, my cellphone is lighting up.
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