The Washington Capitals' penalty kill kept the team in it during Thursday's 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Winter Classic, putting the breaks to five of Chicago's six power plays to keep the Caps around to win it late.
That included a crowd-igniting 5-on-3 kill in the middle of the second period that seized momentum away from the visitors and leveled the playing...ice.
“To me, that was the tipping point of the game,” coach Barry Trotz said, via the Washington Post. “We don’t kill that off, the Chicago Blackhawks are leaving here with the two points and we probably have a pretty disappointed locker room…. So a really big kill. If we don’t kill that off, I’m pretty sure you’re asking me a different question today.”
Couple that with the struggling power play getting off the snide on Troy Brouwer's game-winning goal, and it was a great day for the Caps' special teams.
“Power play has been struggling and came through at a perfect time for us,” forward Brooks Laich said.
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