Penguins out of sorts in 6-0 loss to Capitals

It’s been one of the NHL’s fiercest rivalries for the better part of three decades.

And the state of the bellicose union between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals remains strong these days, even if the two once-vaunted outfits aren’t considered strong candidates for the Stanley Cup.

Or even the playoffs.

The Penguins looked far from strong Thursday after they were dominated by the Capitals, 6-0, at PPG Paints Arena. The defeat came as reports emerged the team had reached an agreement to trade All-Star forward Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes.

If the circumstances surrounding the departure of Guentzel — currently designated to long-term injured reserve because of an undisclosed ailment — impacted how the team performed Thursday, that is subject to fair debate.

But the Penguins certainly looked like a team not even within the gravitational pull of its best.

They verified that suspicion following the game.

“There was nothing going on — no energy, no passion, nothing,” despondent defenseman Kris Letang said. “As a group, we didn’t show up.”

Whenever the Penguins next regather as a group — they are scheduled to practice in Cranberry on Friday — they will not have the company of Guentzel, a vital member of the franchise since he was first summoned to the NHL level in 2016.

Guentzel’s teammates — before the trade was officially announced just before midnight — spoke reverently about the All-Star left winger.

“He’s a great player, great teammate,” said Sidney Crosby, virtually arc-welded to Guentzel as a linemate for more than half a decade. “A friend. He did everything he possibly could in his time here. It was just a privilege to play with him for the course of that time. Some great memories. It was just a privilege. That’s all I can say.”

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged the speculation around the team and Guentzel’s uncertain status has impacted the demeanor of the squad.

“Obviously, we didn’t do a good enough job handling a lot of that noise that’s going on around the team,” Sullivan said. “Jake means an awful lot to these guys. When you win championships together, there’s a certain bond there that’s hard to put into words. And so, these guys are human. As much as we preach staying on task here and focus, obviously, I have to believe that some of that had an impact on what went on the ice tonight.

“It’s not an excuse. We still need to do our jobs. That’s our business. It’s what we sign up for. We have to be better moving forward.”

Thursday’s result marked the second time in their past three games the Penguins had allowed a touchdown’s worth of goals. They were previously bludgeoned on the road by the Edmonton Oilers, 6-1, on Sunday.

“We didn’t play like a team today,” Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “We got it handed to us two times now in a short period of time. It’s a tough feeling.”

Things felt bad for the hosts seemingly as soon as the contest began as for the fifth time in 10 games, the Penguins allowed a short-handed goal, this time to forward/nemesis Tom Wilson, who collected his 14th goal of the season 1:51 into regulation.

After Crosby left a drop pass on the right half wall of the offensive zone for no one in particular, Capitals forward Beck Malenstyn claimed possession and initiated transition, creating a two-on-one rush with Wilson against Letang. Gaining the Penguins’ zone on the left wing, Malenstyn dished a pass by Letang to Wilson racing up the right wing. Wilson’s first shot, a wrister, hit off the near post, but he managed to bat in the rebound out of the air from a bad angle by goaltender Tristan Jarry’s left shoulder on the near side. Malenstyn had the only assist.

#ALLCAPS 1-0. TOM WILSON STILL OWNS THE PENGUINS, This might be the best goal of the season pic.twitter.com/G2kaDAulDo

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 8, 2024

After the game, Wilson revealed his grandfather died earlier in the day.

“This one actually meant a lot to me personally because my grandfather passed this afternoon,” said Wilson, who the Capitals selected in the 2012 NHL draft staged in Pittsburgh. “This is a building I got my start in at the draft. I know he was up there and pulling for the (Capitals). This one is for my family and ‘Grampy.’ That’s life. He had an amazing life. I’m pretty happy to get this one for him.”

Another special teams goal put the visitors up by a pair only 30 seconds into the second period when Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 18th on a power-play sequence.

Taking a pass at the left point of the offensive zone, Capitals defenseman John Carlsson snapped a wrister toward a phalanx of bodies amassed in front of the crease. The puck appeared to hit off of Letang and hopped into the mid-section of Jarry, who was unable to smother the rebound. After Capitals forward Dylan Strome and Wilson dug in to keep the puck free, Ovechkin cleaned it up with a forehand shot from the right of the cage. Wilson and Strome had assists.

Power play goal for Washington!

Scored by Alex Ovechkin with 19:30 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome.

Pittsburgh: 0
Washington: 2#WSHvsPIT #LetsGoPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/3OrBBlIjOK

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 8, 2024

Defenseman Nick Jensen’s first goal of the season at 3:16 of the second frame made it a 3-0 contest.

Barging into the Capitals’ zone with the puck, Penguins forward Jesse Puljujarvi simply fell to the ice and lost possession along the boards. That allowed Jensen to claim possession and trigger a rush into the Penguins’ zone. Taking a pass from Jensen, Malenstyn gained the offensive blue line on the right wing and ripped a wrister from the near circle that Jarry fought off. Jensen jabbed at the ensuing rebound a handful of times before putting a forehand shot by Jarry’s blocker. The lone assist went to Malenstyn.

#ALLCAPS 3-0. JENSEN GOALLLLLL. pic.twitter.com/TmMnt8ngJZ

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 8, 2024

The rout was on at 8:50 of the second when Capitals rookie forward Hendrix Lapierre found his sixth goal.

Working off the Penguins’ end boards, Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk backhanded the puck off the right side of the cage. Lapierre gathered the rebound below the right circle, spun to his left and ripped a wrister by Jarry’s left leg. Assists went to van Riemsdyk and Ovechkin.

Washington goal!

Scored by Hendrix Lapierre with 11:10 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Trevor van Riemsdyk and Alex Ovechkin.

Pittsburgh: 0
Washington: 4#WSHvsPIT #LetsGoPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/82LtYlyv8P

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 8, 2024

That prompted Sullivan to pull Jarry and replace him with backup Alex Nedeljkovic. Jarry incurred the loss, falling to 18-20-3 after he stopped 18 of 22 shots.

The Capitals were undeterred by that alteration as rookie forward Ivan Miroshnichenko scored his first career goal at 16:21 of the second.

Claiming a rimmed puck on the Penguins’ end boards, Strome backhanded it off the left side of the cage. The rebound caromed below the left circle for Miroshnichenko. Facing little resistance from anyone in a black jersey, Miroshnichenko danced across the front of the crease and tucked a forehand shot by the left skate of a helpless Nedeljkovic. Strome and forward Sonny Milano had assists.

#ALLCAPS 5-0. IVAN MIROSHNICHENKO, FIRST NHL GOAL, im actually gonna cry. pic.twitter.com/XENvBOubOe

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 8, 2024

At 2:13 of the third period, the Capitals went up by a touchdown via Milano’s ninth goal.

Taking a pass on the inner rim of the left circle of the offensive zone, defenseman Alexander Alexeyev diced up the Penguins’ defensive zone with a subtle pass to the lower right circle where Milano swiped a one-timer by Nedeljkovic’s glove on the near side. Alexeyev and Strome collected assists.

#ALLCAPS 6-0. WOW ALEXEYEV. Edmundson couldn't do that for sure! pic.twitter.com/5DHla4kHbb

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 8, 2024

Nedeljkovic finished with five saves on seven shots.

Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who was in net after projected starter Darcy Kuemper fell ill, stopped 39 shots to record his fourth shutout of the season.

The Penguins were shut out for the fourth time in 2023-24.

“I just thought we didn’t play as a team,” Pettersson said. “They really handed it to us. It’s a tough feeling in here right now.”

Notes:

• In addition to giving up a short-handed goal, the Penguins’ power play was 0 for 4.

• The Penguins have given up 10 short-handed goals this season. Entering the day, only the Montreal Canadiens (11) have-yielded more.

• Penguins forward Jansen Harkins fought Malenstyn at 7:18 of the second period:

#ALLCAPS MALENSTYN FIGHT pic.twitter.com/DwXBLzchYJ

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 8, 2024

• Penguins forwards Noel Acciari and Harkins each returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s 5-3 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to undisclosed injuries.

• Penguins forward Drew O’Connor was scratched after suffering a concussion Tuesday.

• Penguins rookie forward Joona Koppanen and defenseman John Ludvig were healthy scratches.

• Penguins forward Rickard Rakell appeared in his 700th career game.

• The Capitals’ last shutout of the Penguins was a 4-0 home win on Jan. 28, 2015. Goaltender Braden Holtby made 27 saves in that victory.