It was bound to happen. Honestly it was. The Penguins, despite any thoughts by the Washington Capitals, their fans and the media, have consistently outplayed the Capitials in this best of seven series. Yet despite that fact, the Penguins returned to Pittsburgh down 0-2 in the series. Varlamov, Washington’s rookie net minder, was the only reason for that.
However, after another dominating effort on Wednesday the Penguins followed up with yet another last night seeming to finally have solved the riddle of Varlamov and putting five pucks behind him to win Game 4 of the best of seven series 5-3. Just like every other game so far, it could have been much, much worse. Only Varlamov stopped it from being a slaughter – again.
Marc-Andre Fleury again allowed a goal on the first shot he faced barely a minute into the game. It was a soft goal and one he should have never allowed. But with the team scoring first loosing every game of the series so far, perhaps it was all part of the plan. Sergei Gonchar (2) opened the flood gates by ripping a power play goal through Varlamov at just 3:55 of the first to tie the game up. Gonchar would later be hurt on another one of Ovechkin’s famous head hunting missions later in the game and would not return. The exact status of Gonchar’s injury is still unknown but it looks like his status for Game 5 tonight is doubtful.
Capital’s fans will never admit it but Ovechkin has a history of taking runs at players in vulnerable situations. He has done it repeatedly to Crosby, although that stopped after Crosby jumped out of the way of a couple causing Ovechkin to slam into the boards hard and he has done it repeatedly to Malkin prior to this season. But again, Malkin has toughened up and Ovechkin has learned that headhunting Geno is not a safe bet any more. Ovechkin will never get a suspension for his antics because the NHL does not want to force a marquee player out of an important game in an important series no matter how justified it would be to do so.
Bill Guerin (3) and Fedotenko (3) also added goals in the first to send the Capitals into the intermission down 3-1. Clark (1) would get the Capitals back to within one late in the second period but Crosby (9) made the lead two again early in the third.
Two minutes late the refs put their whistles away. While on the power play, the Penguins were in their own end and an obvious bit of interference on Kris Letang went uncalled. The Capitals then scored short handed to make it 5-4. However it was Talbot (2) that iced the game late in the third beating Varlamov for the Penguins fifth goal.
Fleury made 19 saves with a few goal saving stops to help anchor the victory.
The two teams turn around and head to Washington for Game 5 tonight with the series now a best of three games. The Penguins need a win on Washington’s ice and if they don’t get one tonight, Game six on Monday night in Pittsburgh will be do or die.