Washington Capitals @ Pens 3-1 - Sunday, April 01, 2018
The Washington Capitals clinched first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-1 win against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Philipp Grubauer made 36 saves for the Capitals (47-25-7), who have won six of seven games and are five points ahead of the Penguins (45-29-6). Washington has won the division three straight seasons. Grubauer, who played his 100th NHL game (78 starts), had a shutout until Patric Hornqvist cut the Capitals lead to 3-1 at 16:15 of the third period. He is 7-1-0 in eight games since March 10.
Matt Murray made 31 saves for Pittsburgh (45-29-6), which is two points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers for second in the Metropolitan. The Blue Jackets and Flyers each have played one fewer game than the Penguins. Pittsburgh clinched its 12th straight berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
"I don't think we're going to learn anything new [about the Capitals]," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "We've played these guys so many times. We know exactly what they are, and they know what we are. … There's a lot of familiarity on both sides. Everybody knows what kind of game it's going to be going in."
Alex Ovechkin played his 1,000th NHL game, all with the Capitals, the first player in their history to do so.
"It's important. Milestones are milestones," said Ovechkin, who had four shots on goal in 22:47. "It's history. It's nice to be in the history book."
T.J. Oshie gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 6:25 of the first period. Andre Burakovsky stick-handled through the neutral zone before passing to Oshie, who held off Evgeni Malkin before skating in alone on Murray and beating him five-hole.
"You guys ever, in your life or at your job, think, 'Well, I'm a dummy'? [The delay of game penalty] was one of my moments," Niskanen said. "Good job by the killers there, and [Grubauer]."
The Penguins and Capitals each were 0-for-5 on the power play. Dmitry Orlov put Washington ahead 2-0 with a wrist shot between defenseman Olli Maatta's legs and past Murray's blocker at 13:46 of the second. Tom Wilson made it 3-0 by deflecting a Niskanen shot over Murray 23 seconds into the third period.
* Orlov's goal at 13:46 of the second period.
* Grubauer stopping Sidney Crosby at 13:27 of the third period.* Wilson's goal 23 seconds into the third period.* Capitals forward Jay Beagle left the game with an upper-body injury at 14:16 of the first period. Trotz said he is doubtful to play against the St. Louis Blues on Monday. … Penguins forward Phil Kessel played his 690th consecutive NHL game after being a game-time decision. He sustained a lower-body injury midway through the third period against the Canadiens on Saturday. ... Maatta played his 300th NHL game. … Murray lost a home start in regulation for the first time since Jan. 4, when he allowed four goals on 33 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Hurricanes. That ended his streak of 10 straight games without a regulation loss at home (9-0-1).
"[Winning the division] goes to the guys in the room and all the guys that put in the work all year. Obviously, it was a tough summer for us as an organization. Just getting some traction coming out of the gates was as tough as it's been. I think we kind of grew together. We understood what we might have to be just to make the playoffs." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz
"We sent a message, like we're ready to play in the playoffs. Maybe the second round. I think we had a great game, but I'm glad we showed in the last three minutes that we're not going to stop playing. We showed that we're ready to play if we meet each other in the playoffs." -- Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin
Pens @ Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 OT - Thursday, April 05 2018
"I don't think we're going to learn anything new [about the Capitals]," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "We've played these guys so many times. We know exactly what they are, and they know what we are. … There's a lot of familiarity on both sides. Everybody knows what kind of game it's going to be going in."
Alex Ovechkin played his 1,000th NHL game, all with the Capitals, the first player in their history to do so.
"It's important. Milestones are milestones," said Ovechkin, who had four shots on goal in 22:47. "It's history. It's nice to be in the history book."
T.J. Oshie gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 6:25 of the first period. Andre Burakovsky stick-handled through the neutral zone before passing to Oshie, who held off Evgeni Malkin before skating in alone on Murray and beating him five-hole.
The Penguins and Capitals each were 0-for-5 on the power play. Dmitry Orlov put Washington ahead 2-0 with a wrist shot between defenseman Olli Maatta's legs and past Murray's blocker at 13:46 of the second. Tom Wilson made it 3-0 by deflecting a Niskanen shot over Murray 23 seconds into the third period.
* Orlov's goal at 13:46 of the second period.
* Grubauer stopping Sidney Crosby at 13:27 of the third period.* Wilson's goal 23 seconds into the third period.* Capitals forward Jay Beagle left the game with an upper-body injury at 14:16 of the first period. Trotz said he is doubtful to play against the St. Louis Blues on Monday. … Penguins forward Phil Kessel played his 690th consecutive NHL game after being a game-time decision. He sustained a lower-body injury midway through the third period against the Canadiens on Saturday. ... Maatta played his 300th NHL game. … Murray lost a home start in regulation for the first time since Jan. 4, when he allowed four goals on 33 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Hurricanes. That ended his streak of 10 straight games without a regulation loss at home (9-0-1).
"[Winning the division] goes to the guys in the room and all the guys that put in the work all year. Obviously, it was a tough summer for us as an organization. Just getting some traction coming out of the gates was as tough as it's been. I think we kind of grew together. We understood what we might have to be just to make the playoffs." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz"We sent a message, like we're ready to play in the playoffs. Maybe the second round. I think we had a great game, but I'm glad we showed in the last three minutes that we're not going to stop playing. We showed that we're ready to play if we meet each other in the playoffs." -- Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin
Pens @ Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 OT - Thursday, April 05 2018The Columbus Blue Jackets clinched a Stanley Cup Playoff berth with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins at Nationwide Arena. Phil Kessel scored his second goal of the game at 1:06 of overtime with a shot from the left circle that went glove-side on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
"It feels good," Kessel said. "It's getting to that time of the year where you have to battle and get wins."
Pittsburgh (46-29-6) has 98 points and remains second in the Metropolitan Division by one point over the Blue Jackets and the New Jersey Devils. The Blue Jackets (45-29-7) are third because they own the second tiebreaker on the Devils: Columbus won the season series 3-1-0. New Jersey holds the first wild card from the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers.
"It's tight. It's been like that all year," Penguins center Sidney Crosby said. "For a lot of those teams, a lot of them are winning games and not really moving very far in the standings. It's been like that for a little bit now. It comes down to the final game, as you'd probably expect."
Columbus has qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time.
"When we wake up we're going to feel better, we'll be happier," Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois said. "Right now, a loss is a loss. That's a good team over there. Odds are we might be getting them in the playoffs."
Patric Hornqvist had a goal and an assist, Conor Sheary and Kris Letang scored and Matt Murray made 26 saves for the Penguins. Zach Werenski, Matt Calvert, Boone Jenner and Cam Atkinson scored, and Bobrovsky made 38 saves for Columbus.
"We're in every game," Sheary said. "No matter if we're down one or up one we play our best in those tight games."
The Penguins trailed 4-3 before they tied it a fourth time when Sheary made it 4-4 at 12:16 of the third period, scoring on a bank shot from his knees that went off Bobrovsky. Sheary had the initial attempt on a partial break blocked by Werenski but the puck stayed close to the side of the net.
"It just sat there," Sheary said. "I can't say I tried to bank it off him. I tried to get it on net."
Atkinson scored at 8:25 of the third period to put Columbus ahead 4-3. He put in a rebound of his tipped shot from Pierre-Luc Dubois. Dubois and Artemi Panarin each got their second assist of the game. Werenski made it 1-0 at 5:11 of the first with a backhander when Murray left the near post open. Werenski has 16 goals. Kessel evened the score 1-1 at 10:26 on the power play with his 32nd goal.
Jenner, on the power play, scored off a cross-ice setup by Thomas Vanek for a 3-2 lead at 6:35 of the second period. Letang's power-play goal at 2:58 of the third tied it 3-3. He got his ninth goal with a shot from the right circle that went to the upper corner on the far side.
"There's a number of things we could do better but you have to give that team credit," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "They can score goals. They know how to win."
* Kessel's goal at 1:06 of overtime.
* Murray's save on Atkinson at 19:49 of the third period.* Sheary's goal at 12:16 of the third period.* Hornqvist has a goal in four straight games and has eight points (five goals, three assists) in a six-game point streak. … Letang tied Sergei Gonchar with four 50-point seasons for the Penguins. Paul Coffey holds the record with five. … Dubois set the Blue Jackets record for points in a season by a rookie, 48 (20 goals, 28 assists). Werenski had 47 last season. … Panarin has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in a five-game point streak … Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson returned after missing 17 games with a knee injury. He had two shots on goal in 9:44.
"There aren't too many guys that are going to score that goal. The puck comes off his stick differently, it just does. He has such a deceptive release. It's so accurate with velocity on it. It's as hard a wrist shot as I've seen." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on Phil Kessel's overtime goal
"It [stinks] losing the game. It's kind of weird. I'm thrilled for the team, absolutely thrilled for the amount of work they put in. We were almost dead in the water and gone a couple of months ago." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella on clinching a playoff berth
Pittsburgh (46-29-6) has 98 points and remains second in the Metropolitan Division by one point over the Blue Jackets and the New Jersey Devils. The Blue Jackets (45-29-7) are third because they own the second tiebreaker on the Devils: Columbus won the season series 3-1-0. New Jersey holds the first wild card from the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers.
"It's tight. It's been like that all year," Penguins center Sidney Crosby said. "For a lot of those teams, a lot of them are winning games and not really moving very far in the standings. It's been like that for a little bit now. It comes down to the final game, as you'd probably expect."
Columbus has qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time.
"When we wake up we're going to feel better, we'll be happier," Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois said. "Right now, a loss is a loss. That's a good team over there. Odds are we might be getting them in the playoffs."
Patric Hornqvist had a goal and an assist, Conor Sheary and Kris Letang scored and Matt Murray made 26 saves for the Penguins. Zach Werenski, Matt Calvert, Boone Jenner and Cam Atkinson scored, and Bobrovsky made 38 saves for Columbus.
"We're in every game," Sheary said. "No matter if we're down one or up one we play our best in those tight games."
The Penguins trailed 4-3 before they tied it a fourth time when Sheary made it 4-4 at 12:16 of the third period, scoring on a bank shot from his knees that went off Bobrovsky. Sheary had the initial attempt on a partial break blocked by Werenski but the puck stayed close to the side of the net.
"It just sat there," Sheary said. "I can't say I tried to bank it off him. I tried to get it on net."
Atkinson scored at 8:25 of the third period to put Columbus ahead 4-3. He put in a rebound of his tipped shot from Pierre-Luc Dubois. Dubois and Artemi Panarin each got their second assist of the game. Werenski made it 1-0 at 5:11 of the first with a backhander when Murray left the near post open. Werenski has 16 goals. Kessel evened the score 1-1 at 10:26 on the power play with his 32nd goal.
"There's a number of things we could do better but you have to give that team credit," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "They can score goals. They know how to win."
* Kessel's goal at 1:06 of overtime.
* Murray's save on Atkinson at 19:49 of the third period.* Sheary's goal at 12:16 of the third period.* Hornqvist has a goal in four straight games and has eight points (five goals, three assists) in a six-game point streak. … Letang tied Sergei Gonchar with four 50-point seasons for the Penguins. Paul Coffey holds the record with five. … Dubois set the Blue Jackets record for points in a season by a rookie, 48 (20 goals, 28 assists). Werenski had 47 last season. … Panarin has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in a five-game point streak … Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson returned after missing 17 games with a knee injury. He had two shots on goal in 9:44.
"There aren't too many guys that are going to score that goal. The puck comes off his stick differently, it just does. He has such a deceptive release. It's so accurate with velocity on it. It's as hard a wrist shot as I've seen." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on Phil Kessel's overtime goal"It [stinks] losing the game. It's kind of weird. I'm thrilled for the team, absolutely thrilled for the amount of work they put in. We were almost dead in the water and gone a couple of months ago." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella on clinching a playoff berth
Ottawa Senators @ Pens 0-4 - Friday, April 06, 2018
The Penguins clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 4-0 win against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh (47-29-6), which is 4-1-0 in its past five games, will have home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan before winning the Stanley Cup in each of the past two seasons.
"I've said it a lot, they're a fun group to coach," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "They're competitive guys. They want to win. I think we have great leadership in our room. I think they play their best when the stakes are high. This has been a challenging year for us in a lot of different ways.
"What I love about our group is when the stakes get high, we play at our best. I think that's an indication of the leadership that we have in the room."
Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who lead the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils by three points for second in the Metropolitan. Casey DeSmith made 35 saves for his first NHL shutout.
"It's thrilling," DeSmith said. "Everything that you would expect it to be, it is. I'm just really thankful it came at an important time, in an important game. To clinch home ice is awesome. We want to be here as much as we can. Our home record (30-9-2) speaks for itself."
"Our guys gave everything they had," Senators coach Guy Boucher said. "This was a real important game for [the Penguins]. We outshot them 35-23, but they capitalized on their opportunities and we did not. … We pushed, and we pushed, and we pushed. Their goalie played outstanding.
"In the end, they have those high-end scorers that don't need as many scoring chances to put it in, and that's how they are where they are."
Anderson saved Crosby's five-hole attempt on a breakaway 44 seconds into the first period. Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead on a power play at 1:25 of the second period, scoring from below the goal line by banking a shot in off Anderson's pads. Jake Guentzel made it 2-0 at 7:31, getting the rebound of Justin Schultz's shot and banking a backhand from below the goal line off Anderson's left skate. Kessel extended the lead to 3-0 at 6:55 of the third period, one-timing a shot into an open net off a scramble in front before Patric Hornqvist scored for the fifth straight game to make it 4-0 at 16:53. Ottawa had a four-minute power play after Evgeni Malkin was called for slashing and cross checking Zack Smith at 11:43 of the first.
* Crosby's goal at 1:25 of the second period.* DeSmith's save on Tom Pyatt at 6:32 of the second period.* Guentzel's goal at 7:31 of the second period.* Senators forward Mark Stone missed his 14th straight game with a leg injury and won't play in Ottawa's season finale against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. … Senators defenseman Ben Harpur left with a separated shoulder after Carl Hagelin cross checked him into the boards at 11:54 of the second period. Harpur will not play Saturday. … Crosby played 82 games for the first time in his NHL career. He played 81 twice (2005-06 and 2009-10). … Sullivan won his 200th game as an NHL coach. He is 200-122-15 in five seasons (two with the Bruins and three with the Penguins).
"I think, down the stretch, we had to play in some big games. So I think that mentality and games like that, I think prepare you for the playoffs. So, yeah, I think we did a good job and won some close games." -- Penguins forward Sidney Crosby
"Finished the year here last year on a tough note and we wanted to give them a hard time tonight and get a win for ourselves. But we knew they were going to come out pretty hard. Obviously, they wanted home ice for the playoffs too. We played pretty well tonight, I thought. We had our chances, and obviously, the ones they got, they capitalized on." -- Senators forward Tom Pyatt
"What I love about our group is when the stakes get high, we play at our best. I think that's an indication of the leadership that we have in the room."
Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who lead the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils by three points for second in the Metropolitan. Casey DeSmith made 35 saves for his first NHL shutout.
"It's thrilling," DeSmith said. "Everything that you would expect it to be, it is. I'm just really thankful it came at an important time, in an important game. To clinch home ice is awesome. We want to be here as much as we can. Our home record (30-9-2) speaks for itself."
"In the end, they have those high-end scorers that don't need as many scoring chances to put it in, and that's how they are where they are."
Anderson saved Crosby's five-hole attempt on a breakaway 44 seconds into the first period. Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead on a power play at 1:25 of the second period, scoring from below the goal line by banking a shot in off Anderson's pads. Jake Guentzel made it 2-0 at 7:31, getting the rebound of Justin Schultz's shot and banking a backhand from below the goal line off Anderson's left skate. Kessel extended the lead to 3-0 at 6:55 of the third period, one-timing a shot into an open net off a scramble in front before Patric Hornqvist scored for the fifth straight game to make it 4-0 at 16:53. Ottawa had a four-minute power play after Evgeni Malkin was called for slashing and cross checking Zack Smith at 11:43 of the first.
* Crosby's goal at 1:25 of the second period.* DeSmith's save on Tom Pyatt at 6:32 of the second period.* Guentzel's goal at 7:31 of the second period.* Senators forward Mark Stone missed his 14th straight game with a leg injury and won't play in Ottawa's season finale against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. … Senators defenseman Ben Harpur left with a separated shoulder after Carl Hagelin cross checked him into the boards at 11:54 of the second period. Harpur will not play Saturday. … Crosby played 82 games for the first time in his NHL career. He played 81 twice (2005-06 and 2009-10). … Sullivan won his 200th game as an NHL coach. He is 200-122-15 in five seasons (two with the Bruins and three with the Penguins)."I think, down the stretch, we had to play in some big games. So I think that mentality and games like that, I think prepare you for the playoffs. So, yeah, I think we did a good job and won some close games." -- Penguins forward Sidney Crosby"Finished the year here last year on a tough note and we wanted to give them a hard time tonight and get a win for ourselves. But we knew they were going to come out pretty hard. Obviously, they wanted home ice for the playoffs too. We played pretty well tonight, I thought. We had our chances, and obviously, the ones they got, they capitalized on." -- Senators forward Tom Pyatt
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