WASHINGTON – The Penguins, consistently inconsistent, put forth another incomplete effort Thursday. But as has often been the case over the last couple of weeks, they managed to skate away with something in the standings.
The Penguins rallied in the latter stages of the third period to pick up a point but they lost, 3-2, to the Washington Capitals in a shootout at Capital One Arena.
Bryan Rust tied the score, 2-2, with 7:08 left in regulation. Skating in on the rush, he caught Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper cheating and snapped a short-side shot over the goalie’s glove. Not a bad way to notch his 300th career point.
That goal sent the Penguins into OT for the fifth time in their last six games.
Casey DeSmith, looking to win back-to-back starts for just the second time this season, stood tall as the Penguins killed a 4-on-3 power play in overtime.
Later, Kuemper stuffed Brian Dumoulin at the buzzer down at the other end.
Nick Backstrom’s goal in the third round of the shootout won it for Washington.
This was, even in late January, a game that could have ramifications come April. The Penguins and Capitals, who presently occupy the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference standings, both entered the night with 56 points.
The Capitals were shot out of a cannon Thursday. They drilled Dumoulin and Jake Guentzel on the first shift, threw several other heavy hits and used their cycle game to hem the Penguins in their defensive zone for long stretches.
Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal from his sweet spot in the left circle to put the Penguins in another early hole. Their killers were wary of the No. 2 scorer in NHL history and his wicked right-handed one-timer, shading a forward over to him throughout the power play. But all it took was one lapse and bang.
With the Penguins on their heels for much of that period, the Capitals had ample opportunity to add to their lead. A pair of pipes and 22 saves from DeSmith let the visitors escape to their dressing room down just 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Storm weathered, they tied it up early in the second. The fourth line, which chipped in two goals in Tuesday’s 7-6 win against Florida, got them on the board. It was a softy but counts the same. Kuemper misplayed a long shot and let the puck lay in the blue paint. Danton Heinen swooped in and slammed it into the net.
He has goals in consecutive games after going the previous 34 without one.
Heinen’s tally helped tip momentum toward the Penguins, who generated 18 shots and significantly more puck possession in the offensive zone that period.
The Capitals regained the lead 5:17 into the third period when Marcus Johansson launched a wrist shot from atop the left circle over DeSmith’s empty glove.
Setting aside that goal, which may have been deflected at the release point, it was a fine response for DeSmith after he faltered in Tuesday’s surprise start against Florida. He made a few difficult stops in the first period, swept across his crease to stuff Ovechkin late in the second and stopped six shots in the third.
ICE CHIPS
-- Josh Archibald and Kasperi Kapanen took part in the optional morning skate in Washington but didn’t play Thursday. Meanwhile, Tristan Jarry and Jan Rutta, who are both out through the All-Star break, didn’t travel here with the team.
-- Teddy Blueger was in the lineup Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s practice. Pittsburgh’s healthy scratches were Jonathan Gruden and Mark Friedman.
-- Blueger and DeSmith exchanged heated words during the morning skate before being separated by teammates. Blueger downplayed the incident. He said, rather unconvincingly, that the longtime teammates were “just messing around.”
-- Conor Sheary, now with the Capitals, played his 500th NHL game Thursday.
COMING UP
The Penguins are slated to practice Friday in Cranberry. Saturday’s home game against the San Jose Sharks is their final game before the All-Star break.
