"WE OWN THE CRAPITALS”: Fans react as Penguins thump Capitals 4-2 to end 2-game skid

The Pittsburgh Penguins ended their two-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Friday. The Penguins, with a 6-8-2 record, were underdogs against Washington, which had a 9-4-0 record and a strong 7-2-0 home performance.

Pittsburgh started well, scoring twice in the first period. Washington responded with a goal, making it 2-1.

In the second period, Washington tied the game at 2-2, but Pittsburgh regained control in the third. The Penguins scored two more goals and held on to secure a 4-2 victory. The Penguins shared the win on X (formerly Twitter) with a post saying,

“PENG-WIN IN WASHINGTON!”

Pittsburgh fans quickly reacted on X, celebrating the win.

“WE OWN THE CRAPITALS,” one fan wrote.

"Tank season is gone. We back baby !!!!!," another fan was optimistic.

"Congratulations PENGUINS.... champions," one X user said.

Take a look at some more celebratory reactions from fans on X.

"KEEP THE MUSTACHES WE WIN!!," a fan said.

"SPEECHLESS WHAT A WIN WHAT A NIGHT #LETSGOPENS," a fan commented.

"Blew another multi-goal game, but never quit fighting. Good win on the road, especially v. the Crapitals!," another fan tweeted.

Mike Sullivan praises Pittsburgh Penguins’ third-period team effort in win over Capitals

Evgeni Malkin’s goal and assist helped Pittsburgh beat the Washington Capitals 4-2 at Capital One Arena. Malkin scored at 10:28 in the third period after Bryan Rust carried the puck into the zone and passed to him near the net, breaking a 2-2 tie. Noel Acciari sealed the win with an empty-net goal.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan was pleased with his team’s third-period effort.

“I thought [the third period] was one of our more complete periods, just kind of digging in and playing a team game,” Sullivan said (via NHL.com). “Really proud of the guys against a team that’s playing extremely well right now. They check hard. They’ve won a lot of games.”

Pittsburgh rebounded from a 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes with strong performances from Erik Karlsson, who scored a goal and added an assist, and goalie Joel Blomqvist, who made 32 saves. Karlsson opened the scoring in the first period off a pass from Malkin, and Michael Bunting soon extended the lead to 2-0 with a deflection.

The Capitals responded in the second period with goals from Rasmus Sandin and Andrew Mangiapane, tying the game. Goalie Charlie Lindgren kept them competitive with 28 saves.