The Rivalry Lives: Pens Fall to Caps 3-2 in OT

by FrankD on Oct 14, 2011 12:20 AM EDT in Game Recaps

With a number of Pens fans eying up that highly-anticipated first regular season meeting against the Flyers on Dec. 8, the Washington Capitals were quick to remind the Penguins to not forget about them.

In the first meeting of the season's four-game series, the Caps took the early edge and the extra point in a 3-2 overtime win. On the plus side, Pittsburgh remains undefeated in regulation play, now holding a 3-0-2 record over the first five games. On the other hand, Washington just took one on the ice at Consol Energy Center. This can only mean PIttsburgh has to do the same on Dec. 1.

In brief:

James Neal. Enough said.
41 shots on goal should be able to get it done, but props to Tomas Vokoun for stepping up big. If anyone's prepared for an onslaught of shots it's a guy who played behind one of the worst defenses for the last four years.
Tough break for Brent Johnson once again. Even though he faced only 19 shots on the night, the two out of the three goals scored would've given a number of goalkeepers trouble. The Mike Knuble goal in the second was just a bad break and the Alex Ovechkin redirect was just dead on.
Still, he did make some big saves: that Knuble shot early in the first, the save on Jason Chimera midway through the second stand out.
Sadly the defense's ability to limit Washington to only three shots in the first and third periods was not enough to get the 'W' in this one.
Arron Asham > Jay Beagle
Back to action Saturday against Buffalo.

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Comments

Not gonna say it’s all Staal’s fault, but a 4 on 3 PP in overtime is tough to beat. He should have know better. Other than that, the team looked great. Deserved a better fate in this one. Tired of losing to the Caps that’s for sure.

Mario LeBest

Twitter @marcy8771

by GoPenguins on Oct 13, 2011 11:08 PM EDT reply actions

I will gladly lose in October...

…but still be playing in June.

Remember, we are ALMOST back to full strength and when we are, it will be special.

Malkin looked awesome last night. Welcome back Geno, welcome back!

WE ARE.......PENN STATE!

by Nick7 on Oct 14, 2011 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Bad penalty by Staal

I’m sure he knows it, but that was a boneheaded penalty. Everybody knew they were going to call something on the Pens to even it up, but bad timing.

Malkin was awsome.

Neal was good. Got those bounces that went the other way last spring.

Johnson was great.

Good game all around except the penalty.

by Steeler Nation VA on Oct 14, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

JAMES NEAL

JAMES NEAL JAMES NEAL JAMES NEAL

That’s what I took away from this game.

by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Oct 14, 2011 12:37 AM EDT reply actions

He’s looked outstanding this year. When your captain comes back, you almost have to leave him with Malkin rather than rock the boat..?

Winterion Game Studios
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by winterion on Oct 14, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

This is definitely a sentiment that is gaining ground. With good reason. It will be interesting to see how the top 6 lines shake out through the season.

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 14, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I missed period 1 and 2 unfortunately, but got home in time to see most of period 3 and the OT. Nice game by Neal, and omg, Asham destroyed Beagle. ouch. you mess with our star players, you get messed up. I hope Beagle is ok though and it will be interesting to see if there is any fallout from this game the next time these teams meet.

Good to see Malkin back out there….

"He doesn’t know whether to cry or wind his watch."..... Mike Lange

by Randy F on Oct 14, 2011 4:09 AM EDT reply actions

Our powerplay did good the first few games of the season. They haven’t scored a pp goal in the past 2 games. If we are going to win games they need to get it on track, fast. Neal had a great game. I was hoping for hat trick in OT, but i guess you can’t win them all.

by dairylady on Oct 14, 2011 7:46 AM EDT reply actions

Wait a guess Neal scored a pp goal to tie it up, but we had plenty of chances.

by dairylady on Oct 14, 2011 7:47 AM EDT reply actions

Well, a bit of a bad luck. And Staal taking a penalty at the wrong time. Other than that, we dominated for a good part of the game.
Why didn’t Fleury start? Coach decision?
And: it’s just me or Sullivan is not contributing 100% of what he could yet?

by -CEZ- on Oct 14, 2011 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Fleury is sick. As in ill with a virus, not in the Pierre McGuire trying to be hip way.

by King Oskar on Oct 14, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Sully’s still kinda getting to know the system and his linemates. That said, I’ve been very impressed with him, especially his speed and his work on the PP.

"90% of the game is physical. The other half is mental." - Yogi Berra

by cyroose on Oct 14, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree. Mostly. He’s been fantastic for our PP, and in that respect I’ve been very impressed with him. But he seems to be struggling to keep up with Malkin’s Malkin-ness at 5-on-5. Watching Sullivan play has made me wonder a bit if he would be a better fit with Crosby than with Malkin, or if it’s just a matter of needing some time to work it all out. Hard to tell, and I have a hard time imagining Kunitz being booted off Sid’s line (or switched to RW), so … wait and see, I guess?

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 14, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Sullivan made a couple beautiful dangles on the point during your PP opportunities, in order to eek out another shot or two. Seemed kind of invisible during ES, though.

Winterion Game Studios
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by winterion on Oct 14, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

by -CEZ- on Oct 14, 2011 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

That's right ladies. Even with the Penguin humping refs, you STILL couldn't stop the Great 8! Suck it!!!

"If a man speaks and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong???"

by ThuGodfather on Oct 14, 2011 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

Uhh…….when was the last time the Caps beat the Pens in the Playoffs?

"90% of the game is physical. The other half is mental." - Yogi Berra

by cyroose on Oct 14, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

rivalry?

Exactly, cyroose
There can only be a rivalry when both sides win the important games.
This is a rivalry only in the minds of Caps fans.
I live in DC and the amount of rejoicing over beating a team without its Captain and #1 Goaltender is ludicrous.

by Diomedes7 on Oct 14, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

This is a rivalry only in the minds of Caps fans.

Considering how many shots you get in at the Capitals in your comments, I respectfully disagree.

Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.

by red army line on Oct 14, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

in my mind, at least, the rivalry goes both ways.

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Oct 14, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s a good rivalry, and the Caps are a good team – I mean no offense. Just ticked off by "ThuGodfather"’s comment…

"90% of the game is physical. The other half is mental." - Yogi Berra

by cyroose on Oct 14, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Suck on This

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Oct 14, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Don’t give us a bad name.

Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.

by red army line on Oct 14, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

We know better.

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Oct 14, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Rec’d

I think … but the display just says “loading…” and seems to be stuck there … so … maybe rec’d? Intended-to-be-rec’d?

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 14, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

You sir are an idiot.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Oct 14, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Atleast our players show up to play when it matters

Can’t say the same for Ovie, Semin and vespa boy who mail it in.

Suck on it Caps.

Pittsburgh Sports: Creating sports history and legends since 1887.

by Bradley James McEachern on Oct 14, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

You can say what you like about Green and Semin in the playoffs, but there’s only player in the league who has a higher points-per-game average than Crosby in the playoffs. Want to guess who it is?

"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box

I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12

by Knee high to a duck on Oct 14, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

If it's Ovie then who cares

The guy hasn’t even been to the EC finals, let alone the actual SCF.

Pittsburgh Sports: Creating sports history and legends since 1887.

by Bradley James McEachern on Oct 14, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

You have plenty of things to celebrate as a Pens’ fan, no need to fabricate anything about the Caps to make your point.

"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box

I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12

by Knee high to a duck on Oct 14, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm not fabricating anything.

Pittsburgh Sports: Creating sports history and legends since 1887.

by Bradley James McEachern on Oct 14, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Yawn

Leave the posting over here to Caps fans who are actually decent and intelligent, some of whom are in this very thread.

by SlayerGhaleon on Oct 14, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Staal

Just wondering how people are feeling about J-Staal today. He hasn’t seemed great in the last couple of games, but I can’t tell if it’s just a matter of things not quite clicking for him, or something more seeming “off”.

Also, can we talk about the penalty that he took in OT? I was at the game and so didn’t have the luxury of replays, etcetera, but to me it looked like a borderline call. Sure, Ovi was upended, but it seemed more to me like a result of a hit plus Ovi changing direction and skating into a stick. I don’t know … my memory of it is kind of clouded with bias. What say you: good call, mediocre call, or bad call?

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 14, 2011 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

Ovi changed direction and skated into Staal’s stick and leg and as a result fell over. By definition it was a trip, but Staal did nothing wrong, imo. It didn’t have to be called in an overtime situation, but I don’t have a problem with it being called, particularly since it was the Caps’ first powerplay (not that they should have had more than the one).

by Skyff on Oct 15, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

By Staal doing nothing wrong I don’t mean rule wise, a trip is a trip, even if it was induced by Ovie. I meant that Ovie is a slippery player and is as good as any at drawing penalties, Staal did a good a job and the play could just as easily have resulted in a turn over and a break-away.

by Skyff on Oct 15, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Got it. That was basically my assessment, too. Good to see that at least one other person agrees with me … :)

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 15, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Entertaining Matchup

I really thought it was a well played game by both teams last night. Geno looked fantastic, the defense played very well, and James Neal looks like the winger we thought we were getting for gogo last year. All in all, we still got a point and have looked real good despite not being at full strength. Love the way the guys are playing right now.

by ibleedblackandgold1 on Oct 14, 2011 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

Pens made a statement

This has not a goddamn thing to do with Asham – the Pens laid down their claim as the team to beat in the EC this year. Realistically, they dominated two out of the three periods and had long periods where they disrupted any kind of flow from the defensive zone to the neutral zone from the Caps, while applying their own pressure.

These are the two most talented teams in the East and less some rotten luck and a .951 from Vokoun, the Pens win that game going away.

And that’s without Crosby.

I’ve gotta hand it to Bylsma, he’s coached up a hell of a system up there. Shero’s put together a loaded roster, and the combination is pretty overwhelming. Barring a major injury to Malkin and/or Crosby, again, the road to the Finals goes through Pittsburgh, in all likelihood.

Enjoy watching this team folks – I hope you realize how lucky you are to be able to call it your own.

"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box

I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12

by Knee high to a duck on Oct 14, 2011 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

I agree: while the loss was disappointing for us Pens fans, I did leave the game with the sense that this Pens team is a team that can win tough hockey games. I think it’s going to be a fun season.

But if you’re interested, we’d be happy to drive our bandwagon through DC and pick you up on the way ;)

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 14, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope your bandwagon hits a pothole and is out for the season with a high axle sprain.

But y’all are pretty good folk over here (and I owe Hooks a drink next time I’m in VA). Do make sure you enjoy this team while you have it; as you know, it doesn’t take too many unfortunate situations to land you at 12,000 fans a night, hoping and praying that you hit the jackpot on the next draft pick.

"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box

I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12

by Knee high to a duck on Oct 14, 2011 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions