After Sitting Out, Murphy Stands Out in Capitals’ Win

Being benched two games ago appears to have been the boost that Larry Murphy needed.

The veteran defenseman scored a goal and assisted on three others as the Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-3, Friday.

Washington Coach Bryan Murray called Murphy’s benching “an attention-getter” and added that the defenseman “has been working harder, and when he works hard, things will happen for him.”

Murphy shrugged off his single-game sitdown.

“I’ve sat out games before; this isn’t the first time for me,” Murphy said. “I’ve been feeling better lately, and that has helped.”

Murphy set up first-period goals by Dave Christian and Mike Gartner before scoring a power-play goal at 14:46 of the second period. He picked up his own rebound near the right face-off circle and flipped a back-handed shot just inside the far goal post, putting Washington ahead, 4-2.