Game 2: 2-1-0-0
Thursday October 4, 2018 Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Place: PPG Paints Arena
Time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: NBCSWA, SN360, SN1, TVAS, ATTSN-PT
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
NHL.COM for Live Box Score
Last Game: October 4, Capitals won 7-0 against Bruins
8-Ovechkin 92-Kuznetsov 10-Connolly
13-Vrana 19-Bäckström 77-Oshie
65-Burakovsky 20-Eller 18-Stephenson
79-Walker 26-Dowd 25-Smith-Pelly
9-Orlov 2-Niskanen
29-Djoos 74-Carlson
44-Orpik 22-Bowey
70-Holtby (starter)
1-Copley
-- SCRATCH --
23-Jaskin
72-Boyd
-- INJURED RESERVE --
6-Kempny
-- SUSPENDED --
43-Wilson (18 games left)
-- 1st Powerplay Unit --
77-Oshie 19-Bäckström 92-Kuznetsov
8-Ovechkin 74-Carlson
-- 2nd Powerplay Unit --
13-Vrana 10-Connolly 20-Eller
2-Niskanen 9-Orlov
Referees: Kendrick Nicholson (#30), Eric Furlatt (#27)
Linesmen: Andrew Smith (#51), Tim Nowak (#77)
1st Period01:49 Hens GOAL Olesiak, assists Malkin & Kessel 1-0 PIT
03:30 GOAL 13-Vrana, assists 19-Bäckström & 77-Oshie 1-1 TIE
04:18 GOAL 44-Orpik, unassisted 2-1 WSH
07:27 Hens PP GOAL Guentzel, assists 2-2 TIE
08:00 GOAL 88-Ovechkin, assists 29-Djoos & 92-Kuznetsov 3-2 WSH
2nd Period00:30 Hens GOAL Letang, assists Crosby & Dumoulin 3-3 TIE
03:54 GOAL 74-Carlson, assist 10-Connolly 4-3 WSH
15:09 Hens GOAL Guantzel, assists Schultz & HornQvist 4-4 TIE
16:58 Hens GOAL Brassard, assists Simon & Dumoulin 5-4 PIT
3rd Period02:45 Hens GOAL Malkin, assists Letand & Crosby 6-4 PIT
13:01 GOAL 77-Oshie 6-5 PIT
13:22 GOAL 77-Oshie, assist Carlson 6-6 TIE
OT01:20 Hens PP GOAL Letang, assists maklin & Kessel 7-6 PIT
FINAL: 6-7 PIT
By Scott Allen October 4 at 11:28 AM
The Capitals' record-breaking season opener, by the numbers
First-year Capitals Coach Todd Reirden had at least seven reasons to smile on Wednesday. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)
So much for a Stanley Cup hangover, huh? The Capitals began their title defense Wednesday at Capital One Arena with a 7-0 shellacking of the Bruins, a team that was receiving more love from experts before the season than the defending champs. As the Capitals hit the road for Pittsburgh, where they’ll look to spoil the Penguins' home opener and improve to 2-0 on Thursday, here’s a look back at some of the record-setting numbers from a memorable banner-raising night in D.C.
7
Goals scored by the Capitals, tied for the third-most in a season opener by a defending Stanley Cup champion. Washington’s 7-0 win is the largest shutout victory in a season opener by a team coming off a title. According to NHL Stats, only two other teams in league history scored at least seven goals in a season-opening shutout. Wednesday marked the seventh time the Capitals shut out an opponent while scoring at least seven goals and the first time they accomplished the feat at home since March 28, 2001. It was the Bruins' 14th shutout loss while allowing seven goals or more.
The Capitals' 7-0 win is tied for the 2nd-largest shutout in a season opener in NHL history.
The largest was in 1975 by the Canadiens against the Kings (9-0).
Washington's win is the largest shutout victory in a season-opener by a defending Stanley Cup winner. pic.twitter.com/HoQboizKeF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 4, 2018
5-7-1
Record in home openers by the defending Stanley Cup champions since the lockout. (The 2007-08 Ducks and 2010-11 Blackhawks opened their seasons as Stanley Cup champions on the road.)
1:47
Time needed by the Capitals to take a 2-0 lead on goals by T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov, the fastest two goals by a defending Stanley Cup champion in a season opener in league history.
1
Point and shutout for Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, who assisted on Kuznetsov’s second goal in the second period and stopped all 25 shots he faced. Holtby didn’t have a point or a shutout during last year’s regular season. He’s on pace for 82 of each this season.
1.000
Capitals Coach Todd Reirden’s career winning percentage after he became Washington’s first coach to win his first game since Bruce Boudreau in 2007.
0
Mentions of former Capitals Coach Barry Trotz during the pregame banner-raising ceremony. Trotz, who coached last season as a lame duck, resigned two weeks after leading the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup title. His new team, the New York Islanders, will visit Capital One Arena on Jan. 18. Expect Trotz to receive a warm welcome, at least from fans, then.
13
Consecutive wins by the Capitals over the Bruins dating back to Oct. 11, 2014, Washington’s longest winning streak against a single opponent in franchise history. The streak now includes four shutouts.
The @Capitals extended their personal win streak vs. BOS to 13 contests, dating to Oct. 11, 2014.
This 13-game stretch vs. one opponent is the longest in franchise history and is the NHL's longest active run vs. one opponent. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/gfKmWF59pt
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 4, 2018
10
Goals in 14 career season-opening games for Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who is to opening night what Bryce Harper is to Opening Day. Ovechkin scored on the power play from his office in the second period and is now tied with Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau for the most goals in a season opener among active players. Ovechkin has done it in seven fewer games than Marleau.
That pass. That shot. This team. #ALLCAPS #CapsBannerNight pic.twitter.com/dajEwNCvGA
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 4, 2018
802
Career points for Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom, who registered three assists to become the 10th Swedish-born player in NHL history to eclipse the 800-point mark.
6
Career suspensions for Bruins winger Brad Marchand, who fought Lars Eller late in the third period because — get this — he took issue with Eller celebrating Washington’s seventh goal a little too close to the Boston bench.
“His celebration was unnecessary,” Marchand said after the game. “He took an angle in front of the bench and celebrated in a 7-0 game, so I just let him know.”
Had Marchand instigated the fight in the final five minutes of the game, he would’ve received an automatic suspension. Instead, it’ll be up to the league to decide whether he deserves any further discipline.
Read more on the Capitals:
Read more on the Capitals:
Capitals raise their first Stanley Cup banner in a red-rocking scene of revelry
An up-close look at the Capitals' very fancy Stanley Cup rings
Experts still don’t believe in the Stanley Cup champion Capitals
New season starts, but the Capitals' party doesn’t stop in banner-raising opener
Capitals call Tom Wilson suspension ‘garbage,’ ‘unfair’ as he weighs appeal
