Malkin's achievement, Ovechkin’s silence and Kovalchuk’s power reception: how Washington defeated Pittsburgh in the NHL match

Not a single throw by Ovechkin

“Pittsburgh Penguins” and “Washington Capitals” met for the third time in a month with a little. All matches of principal rivals in the “smooth” season 2019/2020 fell at the end of the regular season. In February, the teams exchanged victories. Moreover, if the “penguin” old-timer Evgeni Malkin continued to regularly replenish his score, then the captain of the “capital” Alexander Ovechkin could not score the “Pittsburgh” in four games in a row. The winning match on a foreign site was the fifth goalless for the Russian.

Both teams survived an unsuccessful streak in February. “Washington” had a series of four defeats, which was interrupted just in a meeting with the “penguins”. Those, in turn, lost six games in a row. However, now the clubs are fighting for high places in the Eastern Conference table. Both one and the other dream to get the advantage of their ice in the playoffs.

According to Malkin, the games of “Pittsburgh” and “Washington” cause increased excitement in both Russia and the United States. The attacker suggested that this state of affairs has been lasting since 2005, when Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin simultaneously joined the teams. Explaining his own high performance in these fights, Malkin admitted that he has traditionally laid out against the “capital” by 110%.

“Two attacking teams are playing, and it is always interesting and spectacular. Especially for the confrontation in his division. Therefore, each is tuned in a little more seriously than maybe for some other match, ”he summed up.

Malkin remained true to himself and again upset the Washington goalkeeper Braden Holtby. In the middle of the third period, the Russian striker for the most part threw the 22nd goal of the season with the passes of Patrick Hernquist and Jason Zucker. However, much was clear by this moment. Pittsburgh unsuccessfully spent the first 20 minutes, allowing guests to excel three times. In each case, there were no points for the performance of the Russian players of Washington.

Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins with 36 points at home (14G-22A). pic.twitter.com/KPKiyiTyG8

Before the match, Ovechkin explained the frequent recent failures of his club too complicated game. According to him, the performers of the “capital” invariably make stupid decisions on the site as soon as they begin to think and invent too much.

“We need to understand that we need to play smart, but at the same time simple,” the captain of Washington gave his recipe.

True, he himself did not perform very well. Only for the second time this season, Ovechkin did not make a single shot on goal. In the sniper race, the Russian still has the same indicator as David Pastrnyak of the Boston Bruins - 47 goals each. From the seventh line in the list of the most clogged players in NHL history, which is occupied by Mike Gartner, the Russians are still separated by three goals.

Be that as it may, the leader’s admonition had a beneficial effect on the Capitals. Their newcomer Ilya Kovalchuk tried very hard. The Russian did not replenish his spectacle piggy bank, but was remembered by a powerful force against Brandon Tanev. He played a total of 12 minutes and 57 seconds. This is one of Washington’s worst indicators.

Kovalcheck pic.twitter.com/20mkqkT59N

70 Malkin points

Pittsburgh had a chance to return to the game. However, luck was not on their side. At the end of the second period, the owners received the right to a bullet. Jared McCann, who came out to fulfill it, did not cope with his task. And immediately after the second break, Nick Daud brought the matter to a very comfortable 4-0 for Washington. Only after that, the captain of the “Penguins” Crosby soaked the score, and following his initiative was supported by Malkin, who had to console himself with his personal achievements.

So, thanks to an abandoned puck, for the 11th time in his career he reached the grandmaster mark of 70 points per season (22 + 48). Crosby and Ovechkin have the same amount. Among active hockey players, only Joe Thornton from San Jose Sharks has more seasons with at least 70 points.

Most 70-point seasons, active NHL players:

12 - Joe Thornton
11 - @ emalkin71geno
11 - Sidney Crosby
11 - Alex Ovechkin # NHLStatspic.twitter.com / 8b1lBVDbdO

Pittsburgh mentor Mike Sullivan entrusted Malkin to play 21 minutes 37 seconds. This is the second indicator for the attacking team after Crosby (21:53).

Strong team win. # CapsPens FINAL SCORE: #Caps 5 - Penguins 2 # ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com / F6f1uWQfrK

The final result in the 54th minute from the transfer of Niklas Beckstrom established TJ Oshi. In the standings of the East, “Washington” is on a par with “Tampa Bay Lightning” (89 points each), inferior in additional indicators. And the “Pittsburgh” with 84 points fell already in seventh place.