{"id":580933,"date":"2026-04-13T03:52:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T03:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/580933\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T03:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T03:52:12","slug":"inside-their-playoff-prep-ovechkin-solid-performances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/580933\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside their Playoff Prep, Ovechkin, & Solid Performances"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 The potential final meeting between Sidney Crosby<\/a> and Alex Ovechkin<\/a> had little to do with either of the game\u2019s greatest ever. Instead, the Pittsburgh Penguins en masse played a structured game with plenty of offensive chances that met Washington goalie Logan Thompson\u2019s pads. <\/p>\n

Washington got a break in the second period when referees allowed Trevor\u00a0van Riemsdyk to push the puck free from under goalie Stuart Skinner\u2019s<\/a> pad and across the goal line at 12:22 of the second period. Penguins coach Dan Muse<\/a> saw a secondary replay which showed the puck might have been just a little bit available. It was \u2026 close. <\/p>\n

That was the deciding goal as Washington beat the Penguins 3-0 at Capital One Arena. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t so much covered. I just felt like he had a little too much time whacking on the pad,\u201d Skinner said. \u201cSo there\u2019s been instances where that\u2019s been called goal interference, but not too many times. So I was just hoping for a call to go my way \u2026 again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Muse didn\u2019t think they could challenge the play, and others didn\u2019t think it they should, even if they could have. Given the Penguins\u2019 abysmal track record and their public and private t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate with the NHL over goaltender interference, it was probably a wise move by Muse not to try.<\/p>\n

The Penguins were significantly better Sunday than Saturday. flipped the script with their injured players from Saturday, sitting five more players with minor injuries and dressing most of the players who missed on Saturday, including Crosby and Evgeni Malkin<\/a>. While Washington was supposedly fighting to maintain its improbable playoff eligibility, the Penguins were clearly the better team Sunday. <\/p>\n

The Penguins were a bounce or an extra touch away all day. But never got it. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it was a matter of traffic. I thought we were working hard to go there (to the net). It was just a matter of finishing,\u201d Crosby said. \u201cAround the net, whether it was a puck wide or (Washington goalie Logan Thompson) making a save, or maybe not getting a rebound that might have been there for us, (Thompson) played well. Give him credit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ovechkin Factor<\/p>\n

It was only appropriate that Crosby and Malkin spoke about their long-time rival, respected enemy, and friend, Alex Ovechkin. <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, definitely (it was important for me to play in the game),\u201d Crosby said. \u201cI mean, just for a lot of reasons, you want to keep playing because of the potential (retirement), and then obviously we don\u2019t know. So that fact was important (to play).<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s had a huge impact on (the game), on and off the ice. He came in with such high expectations, and I think he matched them, if not more. Those kinds of expectations, but to be the greatest goal scorer of all time, and to do what he\u2019s done as consistently as he\u2019s (done), has been pretty impressive. I\u2019m definitely honored that I\u2019ve played with him all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n

While everyone else seemed to wave goodbye, including Ovechkin who lingered on the ice after the game waving to fans and saying thank you, Malkin doesn\u2019t think he\u2019s done. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s back next year for sure. He\u2019s still hungry. He scored 30 plus goals this year, and he loves hockey, but if, IF it was his last game, I\u2019m glad to play against him,\u201d his fellow countryman Malkin said. \u201cI\u2019m glad to be his friend. I enjoyed every moment; he\u2019s the greatest goal scorer of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Penguins Analysis<\/p>\n

The Penguins lacked execution Saturday, but Sunday, they slowly dialed in toward some very good breakouts and zone entries. <\/p>\n

The zone entries tilted the ice in the second period. The Xs and Os of the attack were a sneaky but simple flip of the Washington neutral zone defense against them. <\/p>\n

The Penguins took the left wing\u2013up from the defenseman to center ice, then one more tap forward to a forward on the wall at the blue line. Rather than dump the puck around the yellow and chase it on the strong side, the forward took the ice immediately ahead while the F2 trailed slightly. <\/p>\n

As the Washington defenders turned to defend the rush on the wall, that created space behind them for one more pass\u2013wing to center; now the Penguins had speed and pressure from the middle of the ice in the offensive zone. <\/p>\n

The return of Crosby and the Penguins\u2019 top line made a world of difference, but the Penguins were a break, a save away from breaking the game wide open. <\/p>\n

Perhaps if Kevin Hayes or Tommy Novak had buried one of their golden chances. Same with Ville Koivunen, who began a sequence that ended with the puck on his stick at the corner of the crease. <\/p>\n

Defensively, the Penguins handled Washington very well. There were stretches long enough that Skinner needed to dust off cobwebs from his pads. <\/p>\n

Ultimately, the last few games of the Penguins season were and will be about getting ready for Game 1, likely next Saturday. Even though Muse demurred from the question, \u201cWell, we were better than (Saturday),\u201d he deadpanned, Skinner sounded an optimistic tone regarding the team\u2019s increasing readiness for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s playoff form, a little bit today, for sure. We\u2019re in the mode of preparation going into Game One, obviously. It\u2019s not just that we\u2019re trying to get points (Saturday) and tonight,\u201d said Skinner. \u201cWe\u2019re going into our last game against St Louis, but there is some preparation in our game that we\u2019re really trying to make things as detailed as possible going into the postseason.\u201d<\/p>\n

Penguins Report Card<\/p>\n

Team: B+<\/p>\n

The Penguins had a rhythm in their breakouts\u2013the Capitals never hemmed them in their own zone. And the Penguins had precision with their zone entries. Whatever the reason, goaltending, hunger, a few shortcomings on the roster, the Penguins didn\u2019t get the goal. But at least they looked good in not scoring. <\/p>\n

Stuart Skinner: A<\/p>\n

There is a polish, a professionalism to his game that steadies the team. He was quite good when tested Sunday. It would be a shocker if he\u2019s not in net for Game 1. <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Stu had a really strong game today. Again, those goals against. I mean, those are pretty loud ones. I think the first one, you can\u2019t get that many opportunities, (that many) second opportunities when he makes the initial saves,\u201d said Muse. \u201cNot much you can say on that for him. And then you got a two-on-one there at the end of the game. In the first period especially, he made some big saves, and he just kind of slowed some things down there for us, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elevated Performances<\/p>\n

Kevin Hayes: The depth forward with the big personality and lengthy career not only posted superior advanced analytics across the board (71% Corsi, 67% expected goals-for, 67% scoring chance rate, and a 67% high-danger chance advantage), but he was noticeable in doing so. He played with poise in the offensive zone, and the puck followed him like a lost duckling. He had a few Grade A chances and deserved a goal Sunday. <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought he had a really strong game today. He was around (the puck) a lot at both ends of the ice. And I can\u2019t say enough good things about Kevin Hayes. He\u2019s an amazing human being. He\u2019s an amazing teammate,\u201d Muse gushed. \u201cI would honestly say he\u2019s towards the top of my list of in terms of best teammates that I\u2019ve ever seen in hockey. He\u2019s right at the very top. He\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so, the situation this year is what it is. It\u2019s not easy for a veteran player like him to be sitting out as long as he has \u2026 the way he\u2019s handled it, the impact that he makes in our locker room that goes unseen by most. It\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sam Girard: Another outstanding game for Girard. He\u2019s controlling the play. He needs to shoot, but the book on him is that he won\u2019t. No matter. He orchestrated the play from end to end. Another A+ game. <\/p>\n

Kris Letang: The Penguins\u2019 stalwart defenseman has figured out to let Girard play his game and be more freewheeling, and Letang is the clean-up crew, which he did very well Sunday. <\/p>\n

Elmer Soderblom: He was a one-man cycle in the offensive zone. Even when a Capitals defender essentially pushed his head into the glass, Soderblom maintained puck control and offensive zone pressure. <\/p>\n

Players Who Improved From Saturday<\/p>\n

Justin Brazeau: His best game in some time. The Penguins\u2019 big winger was noticeable. He couldn\u2019t find that open shot, but he pressured the Capitals on the walls and in the offensive zone. <\/p>\n

Ville Koivunen: Not his A+ game, but Koivunen was good Sunday. From his first shift, when he created a defensive stop at the red line and transitioned the team to offense, Koivunen was present in the attack. It was a B-grade sort of game, but that\u2019s a huge upgrade from his disappointing performance Saturday. <\/p>\n

Needed More<\/p>\n

Rutger McGroarty: His game was rather muted, which isn\u2019t the type of game he should be playing. Muse only gave him a team-low 9:55 of ice time. He has much more to give. <\/p>\n

Veterans: In fairness, a lot of veterans were getting work and playing with structure, but not necessarily their best. Rickard Rakell was uncharacteristically quiet. So too was Erik Karlsson. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Penguins Analysis<\/a> Penguins game<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> Washington Capitals<\/a> <\/p>\n

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