Penguins Takeaways: Pens EARN Big Win, How they Snapped the Streak (+)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — If shorthanded goals can turn a playoff series, can they turn a season? The Pittsburgh Penguins played well enough to win and limited those ghastly mistakes that have instead delivered losses for more than two weeks. Jeff Carter and Brock McGinn teamed up for a shorthanded goal as the Penguins maligned penalty kill quieted Alex Ovechkin and the Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 at the Capital One Center.

Josh Archibald also hit everything that moved, including Capitals winger, sniper, and 240-pound freight train, Alex Ovechkin.

Archibald laughed about it after the game.

“I was honestly just trying to get in his way and not let him get by me … you know, he’s a big body, and I put all my weight into it. All the weight that I have, anyway,” Archibald said with the smile of a 176-pound winger who bowled Ovechkin.

Most everything went the Penguins way on Wednesday, including sending Ovechkin to the ice. The Penguins had enough of losing. In the second period, Sidney Crosby belted Washington defenseman Martin Fehervary with a few crosschecks. Bryan Rust later earned a fighting major.

“I know that this has been weighing on all of us to try to find ways to get a favorable result,” coach Mie Sullivan said. “We made some progress tonight. We’ll feel good about this one. But we’ve got to turn the page tomorrow and get ready for the one ahead of us.”

They had enough of losing. They had enough of their mistake-ridden play.