This entry was written by DCist contributor Jesse Rounds
Good news has been in short supply for the Washington Capitals lately. They have lost four of the last five, with their only win coming against the up and down Toronto Maple Leafs. In the home game against the Leafs the Capitals looked strong, shutting down the Leafs offense and playing the penalty kill very well.
However, back-to-back 5-0 loses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers show how uneven this team can be. The Caps were completely shut down and their defense failed to show up on the road against the Lightning and at home against the Panthers.
Up next was a 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. At the end of the first period the Caps led 2-1 before the Flyers took the lead back with three power play goals in the second. Alexander Ovechkin scored the lone Caps goal in the second period. In the final period Dainius Zubrus scored an inspired power play goal and the Caps could have tied if they had avoided a late penalty and brilliant keeping by Philadelphia’s Robert Esche.
For the last game before the Olympic Break the Caps hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins who are last in their own division and also share the honor of fielding a superstar rookie. The Penguins dominated the Caps 6-3, as they have throughout the history of this “rivalry.” The MCI Center was sold out for the game and Sidney Crosby didn’t disappoint, scoring a goal early in the first period. Then the flood gates opened; the Penguins scored five more goals before Matt Pettinger scored in the third period. Alexander Ovechkin scored near the 10 minute mark to register his 69th point (a Caps rookie record) and Brian Sutherby rounded out the scoring with 31 seconds remaining.
(AP photo by Nick Wass)
