To say there was plenty of physical play in the first period between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins would be an understatement.
The first 20 minutes featured 27 hits and four penalties, but no goals as the Caps and Pens are scoreless.
Pittsburgh dominated the offensive aspect of the game in the first period, firing 18 shots on Michal Neuvirth, but he figuratively stood on his head and kept the Caps in the game.
The Capitals struggled to get their offense going early, not getting shots on Marc-Andre Fleury on an early power play opportunity. In fact, Washington's first shot on goal came on its best scoring chance; around the 11:00 mark, Nicklas Backstrom sprung Alex Ovechkin for a breakaway. Ovechkin went for the backhand, but Fleury kept with it and stoned him. The Caps finished with just seven shots.
Not all was bad, however, as the Caps killed off all three Pittsburgh power plays.