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Penguins Win Season Finale vs Capitals 5-2

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Jeremy Schouppe | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 11:33 PM ET

On Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals faced off in the final game of their regular seasons. Despite the Capitals having locked up first place in the Metropolitan Division and the Penguins being eliminated from playoff contention, you could have expected some ugly lineups from these teams on the final night of their regular seasons. However, both teams went at it with almost full strength, except for the Capitals, who let goaltender Clay Stevenson make his NHL debut.

Game Recap

For a game with zero meaning, there was plenty of energy early in this contest. Connor McMichael opened the scoring four minutes into the game for the Capitals, his 26th goal of the season. The Penguins responded 50 seconds later, tying the game at one on Bryan Rust’s 30th goal of the season, his first 30-goal campaign in the NHL.

After the Penguins tied the game, you could see the Capitals’ energy wane as the Penguins went on to dominate the shots, 13-5, and the scoring chances, 10-5. Despite the consistent pressure from the Penguins throughout the first 20 minutes, Stevenson, in his NHL debut, stood tall and kept the game tied going into the first intermission.

The Capitals found their legs again early in the second period and put pressure on the Penguins early. But, it was the Penguins who grabbed the 2-1 lead after Rust scored his second goal on the power play off a fantastic pass from Sidney Crosby.

Sidney Crosby is good at hockey. https://t.co/hSdbqWiGAL pic.twitter.com/vTUDfmS8f5
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 18, 2025

Shortly after the Penguins took the lead, the Capitals put the puck past Penguins’ netminder Alex Nedeljkovic. However, the goal was called back due to the Capitals being offside. The Penguins then extended their lead to two goals at the 12-minute mark of the second frame on Crosby’s 33rd goal of the season.

The Capitals then got back within one goal with three minutes remaining in the second period, on a patented Alex Ovechkin one-timer from the circle on the power play—his 44th goal of the season and 897th of his career. This was the final marker of the second period, and the Penguins went into the second intermission with a 3-2 lead.

VINTAGE OVI FOR GOAL NO. 897!

: @espn https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/sIpEWnb17R
— NHL (@NHL) April 18, 2025

In the final frame, you could see the Capitals setting their sights on the playoffs, looking towards their matchup with the Montreal Canadiens. The Penguins came out and jammed one past Stevenson, but it was called back due to Villie Koivunen pushing the puck into the net with his glove, a desperate attempt to score his first career NHL goal.

After the goal was waved off, the Penguins continued to pour on the pressure with Danton Heinen scoring a shorthanded goal on a breakaway, his first goal in 12 games, to make the game 4-2. Then, 15 seconds later, Philip Tomasino added another to extend the Penguins’ lead to three goals with 10 minutes left to play.

This is where the score sat at the season’s final buzzer. The Penguins walk away from the season on a feel-good note, beating the Capitals 5-2, while the Capitals will continue to prepare for a series against the Canadiens, which kicks off on April 21.