The Washington Capitals lost 4-3 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon. Evgeni Malkin continued his brilliant play of late, scoring the game winner in the extra session. Malkin is the leading scorer in the league, and he ended the game on a rebound off the boards behind the net. The puck ricocheted right onto his stick and he flipped it high into the net for the game winner.
Alex Ovechkin gave the Caps the 3-2 lead a little over a minute into the final period. Mathieu Perreault moved the puck into the zone, drawing Brooks Orpik along the boards as he crossed the blue line. He strategically left the puck in a dead spot of the offensive zone and Alexander Semin came in and swooped it up. Semin sent a beautiful crossing pass to Ovechkin who was trailing down the left side of the ice. The Washington captain one-timed a shot past Marc-Andre Fleury before he was able to rotate over in the crease.
Pittsburgh would tie it up six minutes later on James Neal's second goal of the game. The play was set up by Malkin, as he darted down the middle of the ice and split the Capitals' defense. After falling down, he managed to control the puck in the corner, getting it out to Neal who was set up in the slot. With Chris Kunitz providing a screen in front, Neal beat Michael Neuvirth over the left shoulder and just under the cross bar to even it at three. Malkin would add his third point of the afternoon in the overtime session, giving Pittsburgh its sixth win in a row.
With Monday off, Washington now hosts the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
For more on the Capitals you can always head over to Japers' Rink. For some perspective from the other side of the ice, check out PensBurgh, SB Nation's Penguins blog. And for more on this and every NHL game, head over to the SB Nation NHL hub page.