Capitals vs. Penguins: How the Game Was Lost

"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."

The Capitals surrendered two early power-play goals to Sidney Crosby and trailed despite an Anthony Mantha even-strength goal that helped tie the game 3-3. Early in the third period the Penguins took two penalties, but the Capitals' power play remained ineffective and failed to seize the man-advantage opportunity. Pittsburgh capitalized on their fifth power play, with Bryan Rust scoring after a John Carlson turnover flipped momentum into a go-ahead goal. Washington could not equalize and conceded an empty-netter, leaving the loss tied to persistent special-teams breakdowns on both the power play and penalty kill.

Read at Japers' Rink