Team Win For The Pens
March 19, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Capitals defender Dmitry Orlov (81) and Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Beau Bennett (19) jockey for position during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Penguins came together as a team on Sunday as they went into Washington’s Verizon Center and throttled the Capitals 6-3.
Even as Washington made it slightly interesting at the end, the Pens weren’t going to let up and they didn’t.
Scoring the first goal once again, the Pens would stay close (2-2) with the Caps up until just about midway through the second period. And once Letang buried his third of the year at that moment, Pittsburgh logged two more tallies afterwards to end the period in their favor 5-2.
When Pittsburgh has got a comfortable lead, and they’re on their game, it’s almost impossible to deflate something that is inevitable for them–and that’s winning.
This game was a prime example of that.
Congratulations are in order to forward Chris Kunitz, as he was able to record his third career hat trick and totaled four goals on the night.
After the first goal of the game was mistakenly awarded to defenseman Paul Martin, the scorekeeper’s correctly changed the error and gave Kunitz what was originally his.
Tomas Vokoun was great in net once again for the Pens.
The only blemish probably came when the Capitals tied it up at two with a goal that was bizarrely shot off the boards.
But other than that, Vokoun turned away 21 of 24 shots, and stopped three of Washington’s four man-advantages. He now improves to 3-1-0 on the year, with a 2.09 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.
He has now in my opinion, thus far, exceeded all expectations the Pens probably had for him.
While Pittsburgh might not be surprised with his numbers, considering his experience, it comes as a surprise after last season’s poor performances. However, his team this year is much better.
In the four starts Vokoun’s had this year, he has had 17 goals scored for him. That means the Penguins are scoring 4.25 goals a game for Vokoun on average–which is very comfortable for him or any goalie.
Receiving contributions from everybody in the game on Sunday, the Pens might finally be able to manufacture points consistently from their non-superstars.
Matt Cooke had a goal and a helper; while Deryk Engelland, Robert Bortuzzo, Brandon Sutter and Paul Martin collected a point each.
Gradually starting to get support all the way around, it looks as though the Penguins are on their way to predominantly dependable play.
And as long as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang continue to amaze, it’s only going to make the secondary players succeed that much more.
With that being said, Crosby, Malkin and Letang dominated in this game, to say the least. Letang scored and added an assist, Crosby dished three helpers and Malkin included a couple assists.
The overhaul of road contests are almost coming to a end for the Pens.
With two of their next three games being away, Pittsburgh will start to play more at home thereafter. Because in the 11 games the Pens have from February 10th to March 4th, six of them will be at the CONSOL Energy Center.
But the team can’t look ahead of their next opponent, the New York Islanders. Last time these teams met, the Isles embarrassed the Pens in Pittsburgh 4-1.
Game will be set to start tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Long Island.