Second period of Capitals-Penguins featured 9 goals, Malkin hat trick

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Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates his third goal of the second period during an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Two of the NHL’s top teams met again on Monday night and wouldn’t you know it, they both had a hankerin’ for some offense.
The Washington Capitals built up a 2-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins*after the first period, but it was the middle frame that was, to borrow a phrase from Gary Bettman, “absolutely*bizonkers” and saw the game go from 2-0 to 6-5.
Evgeni Malkin scoring a hat trick would have been the big highlight if not for the fact that the Capitals and Penguins combined for NINE goals in the second period. That’s right, nine in a span of 20 minutes.
Justin Williams gave Washington a 3-0 lead 1:17 in and then it was all Penguins. Malkin (twice), Conor Sheary, Nick Bonino and Bryan Rust scored in a span of 8:09 to turn the game on its head. But then the Capitals answered with a pair of their own from Brett Connolly and Lars Eller 1:47 apart. And then finally, because it had to come to an end at some point, Malkin capped off his 11th career hat trick – after a review for potential goaltender interference – with his 21st of the season.

Fun fact: The last time the #Pens had 6 goals in one period was on March 24, 1996 vs. NYR.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 17, 2017
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That wasn’t even the fastest hat trick of Malkin’s career according to Penguins historian Bob Grove. While three in 10:51 Monday night was quick, he actually netted a trick against the New York Islanders in 2008 in an 8:39 span.
Here’s what it all looked like in box score form:

NHL The scoring wasn’t done, as you’d expect, once the third period got under way. Seven minutes in, Sidney Crosby made it 7-5 Penguins with his 27th of the season. But the Capitals answered two of their own to send the game to overtime. That’s when Sheary put an end to things 34 seconds into the extra period to give Pittsburgh a wild 8-7 victory.

Last time the Capitals scored 7 goals, didn't win was against Penguins on Oct. 11, 1988. They lost to the Penguins, 8-7 (Lemieux hat trick)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 17, 2017
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Here’s a supercut of all 15 goals of the game:

Some notes on that second period:
• Six goals allowed doubled the total that the Capitals had given up total*(three) over their last six games.
• Four goals were scored less than a minute apart.
• Three assists for Trevor Daley and Justin Schultz apiece.
• Two goals came from special teams – Eller (shorthanded), Malkin’s third (power play).
• One hat trick (Malkin).
• One goalie change after Braden Holtby was replaced by Philipp Grubauer after five goals on 26 shots. Matt Murray remained in the game.
The Capitals and Penguins are done with their season series, so a best-of-7 would be the case if these two sides were to meet again this season.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy