Following his team’s 5-4 overtime home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov seemed to be at a loss for words.

When asked why the Capitals have had so much trouble with the Penguins in games that went to overtime or a shootout — the Penguins are 3-0 against the Capitals in such games this season — Orlov offered a few low-calorie cliches about bad breaks and playing better in the first 60 minutes of the game.

Ultimately, he completed his thoughts with what was probably the simplest but most accurate answer.

“They’re a good team,” Orlov surmised. “They can score.”

The figures this season confirm Orlov’s suspicion.

At 5-2, the Penguins’ winning percentage of .714 in overtime was fifth best in the NHL before Friday’s games. Add in their 3-1 record in shootouts, and their overall winning percentage of .727 in games that go beyond the realm of regulation is the league’s fourth best.

“We, obviously, have the fortune of having a lot of great players that have been in this league for a long time and have had a lot of success, whether it’s (Stanley Cup championships) or what have you,” defenseman Mike Matheson said. “Our game … is built off a lot of speed. When you subtract two guys (from each team) from the ice and it’s 3-on-3 hockey, there’s a lot of room out there to use that speed as an advantage. That’s where we’re able to create some offense is being able to use that extra space to create our speed.”

That notion was on display on the sequence that led to the Penguins’ winning goal Thursday.

After Capitals forward Anthony Mantha blasted a one-timer from the right circle of the offensive zone, Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry kicked out the rebound with his right skate. Defenseman John Marino corralled the puck in the left circle and began a transition with forwards Jake Guentzel and Jared McCann.

Taking a pass from Marino, Guentzel gained the offensive blue line at center point and fed a pass to the left wing for McCann, who bobbled the puck. Despite that fumble, McCann collected the puck in the left corner, fended off a poke check from ex-Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz and dealt a pass to the high slot for Marino.

Instead of ripping a wrister on net with minimal traffic, Marino slid a pass to the right of the crease, where Guentzel was able to redirect a forehand shot over the right skate of goaltender Vitek Vanecek.

“Heads-up play by (McCann) in the corner there to find Johnny in the slot,” Guentzel said. “Then just a really nice play by Johnny there to find me on the back door. Really good play by those two, and I was just on the end there to be lucky there.”

Luck might be part of it. So is strong goaltending.

And with that component, success in overtime requires more than simply stopping shots. Knowing who is shooting is vital as well.

“Just reading the play,” Jarry said. “I think (backup goaltender Casey DeSmith) and I have done a great job just reading the play. And understanding where players are at in overtime. That’s a big thing, just understanding what guys are open and what guys are shooting threats.”

The Penguins have quite a few threats in their lineup between the likes of Guentzel as well as forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. And their talents are only amplified with the wide-open ice 3-on-3 overtime offers.

But skill alone won’t suffice in finding success in overtime.

“The players have done a real good job just staying committed to it and just paying attention to the details,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “But I think when you have the ability to put some of the types of players that we put over the boards, it certainly improves your chances. We have some dynamic players that have the ability to finish. But having said that, if you don’t pay attention to the details and defend and compete away from the puck, all of those things, then I don’t think you give yourself the chance to be as successful in overtime as we have this year.”

Note: Sullivan labeled forward Evan Rodrigues as “day to day.” Rodrigues left Thursday’s game during the first period after his left ankle was struck by a puck. … Sullivan said injured forwards Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Tanev skated Friday. Both remain on long-term injured reserve.

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