Caps defeat Pens in Winter Classic, 3-1

The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins are rolling in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field in the 2011 NHL Winter Classic. It's the Caps and Pens. It's Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Tonight, it is Semyon Varlamov and Marc Andre Fleury. It's the showcase of the National Hockey League with the two most prolific players in the game, prime time, under the lights.

You can DISCUSS THE GAME  IN OUR LIVE THREAD right here.

We are covering the Winter Classic, period by period, right here at DC Pro Sports Report. Get your recaps here.

FIRST PERIOD

Capitals get the first power play opportunity at the 15:19 mark.  Penalty on Paul Martin.  Caps fail to convert the first man advantage.  First TV timeout, 0-0.   Mike Green interferes with Sidney Crosby.  Pittsburgh gets their first power play opportunity.  Caps successfully kill the Pens first power play opportunity. Great fight between John Erskine and Mike Rupp.  Did Rupp ask the Refs to sto.p the fight?  We are at the 5:19 mark, another TV timeout, still knotted at 0-0.  The first period ends with a 0-0 tie.  I certainly hope NBC decides to stop the screwy camera angles.

Caps 0  Pens 0

SECOND PERIOD

Marc Andre Fleury made a series of stellar saves.  Alex Ovechkin had a breakaway opportunity and could not convert.  Evgeni Malkin scores on a breakaway to give the Penguins an early 1-0 second period lead.  Brooks Laich goes to the penalty box for a Pens power play.  Caps successfully kill off the Laich penalty.  Caps now go to the power play on a holding penalty by Max Talbot on Ovechkin.  The Capitals tie it up on a Mike Knuble power play goal.   Green and Nicklas Backstrom with the helpers.  We are knotted at 1-1.  Jason Chimera missed a gold opportunity with Fleury out of net.  SCORE.  Eric Fehr gives the Capitals a 2-1 lead!  Pens head to the power play on a John Erskine smart penalty.   Caps penalty kill remains perfect.  Pens just scored, but washed out for contact with the goalie.  Second period ends with the Caps leading by 1.

Caps 2  Pens 1

THIRD PERIOD

Third period is underway. Nice save sequence by Semyon Varlamov. Pens going to the power play on a Mike Knuble delay of game penalty. Caps remain perfect on the penalty kill.   Break in action as they will change ends because of wind, at the midway mark of the third period.   Eric Fehr on the BREAK AWAY. His second goal of the game.  Caps push the third period lead to 3-1.   Ovechkin scores, but washed out for incidental contact on Fluery.  Right call.

CAPS WIN THE 2011 WINTER CLASSIC!!!

DCPSR Player of the Game:  ERIC FEHR AND SEMYON VARLAMOV

Fehr scores two goals, Varlamov stops 32 of 33 shots on goal.  A great win by your Washington Capitals.