Backstrom has five-point night as Capitals rout Penguins 7-1

For some reason, the Capitals were allowed to harass Patric Hornqvist all night long as Tom Wilson broke his entire stick on him and didn’t even get a penalty called. Ovechkin immediately left the ice and went to the locker room for evaluation.

After scoring only five goals in their last four games, Trotz again shifted lines heading into Wednesday’s game, but he kept the Johansson, Backstrom, Oshie line intact after a solid performance Tuesday against Columbus. Darling made two saves. Then, Wednesday night came. For a team that hadn’t won a game in regulation since November 5, they didn’t waste much time jumping on the Penguins.

Pittsburgh (10-3-2) hasn’t played since Saturday’s win over Toronto. Coming into tonight the Caps had only beaten the Pens five times in the last 18 meetings dating back to 2012, and they hoped to avenge the shootout loss on both teams opening night of the 2016-17 season.

But Phil Kessel would score for the Penguins from within a scramble in front of Holtby’s crease. “I’m feeling good”, Pouliot told the team’s website. Get them right back, of course. So, we’re dealing with a completely different set of elements in determining who the better overall player is. I think I was fine. “He can shoot the puck as well as pass the puck”.

Notes: Chicago had scored at least two goals in each of its previous games this season …

Washington, D.C. hasn’t won a title in the four major sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) since January 26, 1992.

How do you react when someone pokes fun at your team?

“Ultimately to get to that step yesterday of having contact, you have to be symptom-free and that’s been the case”, Crosby said. With his third-period goal, he has eight goals and four assists this season.

Crosby, meanwhile, has totaled 19 goals and 36 assists 38 games vs. Washington, while Malkin has 12 and 35 in 33 games. Pittsburgh (10-3-2, 22 points) now sits in second place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Rangers (12-4-0, 24 pts.) and three ahead of Washington (9-4-1, 19 pts.).

The Caps put a crooked number on the board in the first period, scoring three times.