Penguins chase Holtby, beat Capitals to take 2-0 series lead
WASHINGTON — When Sidney Crosby wasn’t beating the Washington Capitals putting the puck through his legs, he was doing it belly down on the ice.
No matter the unconventional plays or style of game, Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are rolling after beating the Capitals 6-2 in Game 2 Saturday night to take a 2-0 lead in the second-round series between the NHL’s top two teams. Crosby set up two goals and Phil Kessel and Jake Guentzel each scored two as Pittsburgh chased reigning Vezina Trophy winner and finalist Braden Holtby to go home in total command.
“I think we’ve got a gritty group out there, scrappy,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “It’s not perfect by any stretch out there. We’re aware of that, we know that. But what I love about this group of players is that they respond the right way and they’ve shown and ability to do that time and time again and I think this group finds ways to have success.”
Success came in the form of another brilliant outing from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced, including 16 in the first period. Sullivan called Fleury the Penguins’ best player, and even with Crosby’s four points through two games he’s not wrong.