Pittsburgh Pounds Junior Capitals

The Washington Junior Capitals sleepwalked through the first period and suffered the consequences, losing a 4-2 game to the Pittsburgh Junior Penguins on Day 57. The loss drops Washington to 10-15-3 for the season.

Washington managed to escape the first period tied 0-0, but the team managed just a single shot on goal. The Caps did kill two penalties in the second half of the period to keep the Penguins off the board.

The Capitals were back on the kill in the second period when they took an unlikely lead. Sean Bergenheim scored the shorthanded goal from Sean Kotary and Jakub Cutta at 7:48. Washington had a power play late in the period, but couldn't get the second goal to take control of the game.

Pittsburgh jumped on the Caps early in the final period. Pihlman scored first from Helfenstein and Gervais at 2:27 to tie the game, and just over four minutes later it was 2-1. Hollweg got the goal on the power play from Helfenstein and Pihlman. The Capitals battled back to tie the game again on Cory Urquhart's tally from Igor Shadulov and Frantisek Skladany at 8:33, but that would end the scoring for Washington. Fritsche gave Pittsburgh the lead for good with an unassisted goal at 15:57, and Fata added an insurance marker from Hollweg and Helfenstein at 18:41.

Daniel Taylor stopped 27 shots to take the loss for Washington. Brian Finley made 20 saves to earn his 10th win for Pittsburgh.

The Junior Capitals return to action on Day 59 against Anaheim.