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Penguins let emotions get the better of them in loss to Capitals

Steve Downie, Jack Hillen

Washington Capitals’ Jack Hillen, center, and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Steve Downie (23) tangle in front of Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, left, in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. The Capitals won 3-1. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

AP

In a tied game, third period, on home ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins seemed more interested in retribution at times, after Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin caught Kris Letang with a wicked slash that wasn’t called.

What eventually happened, as the Penguins lost their cool and took a parade to the penalty box?

The Capitals took the lead, as Joel Ward scored on a beautiful passing play with less than five minutes remaining in the third period. They’d go on to defeat the rival Penguins by a final score of 3-1, and now possess the league’s second-best power play at 23.6 per cent after Tuesday.

Ovechkin scored his league-leading 37th goal of the season in the first period. Two of Washington’s goals came on the power play, which would certainly illustrate the need for a more disciplined effort from Pittsburgh, especially in such a tight game, even if it did get chippy.

“I’m not blaming the refs or the Capitals. I think it’s on us. You can be mad over a call. You can be disappointed. But you can’t let it get to your game,” said Pittsburgh defenseman Rob Scuderi, as per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“I like the fact that we responded and didn’t take a lot of crap from them.

“But at the same time, we have to know the line to toe.”

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