The Penguins rallied twice from two-goal deficits and played the entire third period and overtime with only four healthy defensemen as they beat Washington for the second straight time, 5-4. Sidney Crosby pushed in a rebound with 1:11 left in the extra period for the game-winner.
The Penguins also got goals from Colton Sceviour, off a rebound from a Kasperi Kapanen wrist shot, and from Jake Guentzel, Teddy Bleuger, and Evgeni Malkin. Guentzel and Malkin each scored their first goal of the season. Bleuger’s goal was also his first of the season, and was only the third 3-on-5 shorthanded goal in Penguins history. Goaltender Casey DeSmith earned an assist on Bleuger’s double shortie.
Crosby had three points on the night and Kris Letang picked up his first two points of the season, with two assists. DeSmith stopped 22 of 25 Capitals shots to earn his second win.
Coach Mike Sullivan appreciated the gritty play of DeSmith in goal.
The Penguins were 2-for-3 on the power play, including Guentzel’s goal with the two-man advantage. Crosby says they are working hard on changing up their power play approach.
Kapanen played his first game as a Penguin after being drafted number-one by the Pens in 2014 but getting traded two years later to Toronto. He was re-acquired in the offseason and said it was good to finally put on a Penguins sweater.
The Penguins will host the Rangers on Friday and Sunday, and they will have to shore up their defensemen. Both Marcus Petterson and Juuso Riikola left the game with undisclosed injuries last night, forcing the team to finish the game with only Letang, Brian Dumoulin, John Marino, and Chad Ruhwedel on the blue line.
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