Jakob Chychrun found the net twice in a second-period explosion, leading the Washington Capitals to an impressive 8-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday evening.

Despite Alexander Ovechkin’s inability to score, keeping him at 879 career goals, the Capitals didn’t seem to require his spark in their first match back after the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Chychrun’s two quick goals came within four minutes and turned what was a tied game into a commanding lead for Washington. Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson each contributed to the scoreline, ending the second period at 6-2, as the Capitals extended their remarkable run to 13 wins against just one regulation loss and six overtime losses in their last 20 games.

In contrast, Pittsburgh’s captain Sidney Crosby marked a milestone by scoring his 18th goal of the season 6:36 into the second period with an impressive backhand, momentarily leveling the game. This goal also marked the 610th of Crosby’s illustrious career, tying him with Bobby Hull for 18th place in NHL history.

Key Moments
For the Capitals, Ovechkin had plenty of chances for goal No. 880, spending nearly five consecutive minutes on the ice during an extended power play in the third period.

On the other hand, the Penguins honored distinguished Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Lange, who recently passed away, with a heartfelt pregame ceremony but faltered after a strong start. Their first 25 minutes were promising; however, they fell victim to the all-too-familiar issues of poor goaltending and lackluster defense.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred just eight seconds after Chychrun’s second goal when Protas netted his 16th of the season, driving the score to 5-2. This quickly elicited a collective groan from the PPG Paints Arena crowd, who have been accustomed to witnessing the Penguins falter against top-tier competition all season long.

Statistical Highlights
This season, the Capitals have recorded 62 first-period goals, reaching a tie for the highest total in the NHL, a testament to their offensive proficiency. Ethen Frank’s goal at 5:13 into the match added to this tally.

Looking Ahead
The Capitals will kick off a five-game homestand against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Penguins will host their rivals, the New York Rangers, later in the same day.