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.