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Penguins Tie Series With Capitals 1-1

Amber Lee Blog News NHL
Image via Zimbio

Image via Zimbio

After being edged out by a goal in Game 1, the Pittsburgh Penguins returned the favor in Game 2 on Saturday evening, besting the Washington Capitals 2-1 in their own building. They evened out the series at 1-1, with each team having found the back of the net five times through two games.

The night got off to a nasty start, when Caps defenseman Brooks Orpik, who played for Pittsburgh before signing with Washington in July 2014, took out Pens defenseman Olli Maatta with a late hit to the head just 30 seconds into the game.

Maatta left the game and would not return.

Orpik received just a two-minute minor for interference on the ice, but there’s no question he should’ve been hit with a five-minute major. Given the blatant maiming of Maatta, the Caps will likely have to do without Orpik for the next two games.

Official word on a suspension should come down from the league office on Sunday.

Stellar goaltending was on display for both teams, but particularly from Washington’s Braden Holtby, who faced a full-on assault from Pittsburgh through 40 minutes. The Penguins outshot the Capitals 28-10 through two periods, but the roles were largely reversed in the third period.

Still filling in for an injured Marc-Andre Fleury, 21-year-old Matt Murray was once again exceptional in net for the Pens. He gave up just one goal and survived a heart-stopping flurry of shots in the final two minutes of the game as the Caps threw everything they had at him.

The Penguins put themselves in great position by eking out a win on the road. The series heads to Pittsburgh for Game 3 on Monday night.

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