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Penguins power past Washington

The Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek, center, is checked into Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet, right, by Roman Hamrlik during their NHL game on Saturday in Montreal. PHOTO: AP

Sidney Crosby set up the go-ahead goal on a power play, Alex Ovechkin was held without a point for the first time this season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday.

The Penguins won for the second night in a row; the Capitals have dropped four consecutive games after opening the season 3-0.

It was the ninth NHL meeting between two of the league's young superstars, and the Penguins have won eight.

Crosby sent a cross-ice pass to Ryan Whitney, whose slap shot beat Brent Johnson 17:59 into the second to make it 2-1. It was the 100th career point for Whitney, in his third season.

Washington went ahead 1-0 on defenseman Brian Pothier's goal of the season, 13:45 into the game.

The Penguins tied it 1-1 nearly 4 minutes into the second period on Jordan Staal's goal.

Canadiens 4, Sabres 2

At Montreal Roman Hamrlik had a goal and two assists to lift Montreal over Buffalo.

Hamrlik was credited with a goal at 12:38 of the third period after his shot off the end boards went in off defenseman Toni Lydman. Chris Higgins scored into an empty net with 24.9 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Bryan Smolinski and Kyle Chipchura also scored for the Canadiens.

Bruins 1, Rangers 0, SO

At Boston, Phil Kessel scored the lone goal in a shootout to give Boston the victory over New York.

After the first five shooters failed in the tiebreaker, Kessel skated in on Henrik Lundqvist and fired a wrist shot under the crossbar.

Lundqvist made 19 saves in regulation and overtime.

Flyers 3, Hurricanes 2, OT

At Philadelphia, Simon Gagne scored his second goal of the game 48 seconds into overtime and Philadelphia beat Carolina for its fifth straight win.

Mike Richards also scored for the Flyers.

Justin Willliams and Eric Staal scored for the Hurricanes.

Islanders 4, Devils 3, OT

At Uniondale, New York, Bill Guerin's power-play goal with 3.7 seconds left in overtime gave the Islanders the win over New Jersey after New York squandered a two-goal lead in the third period.

The Islanders captain got to a loose puck in front after it kicked around following a shot by Mike Comrie.

He smacked it past backup goalie Kevin Weekes, subbing for a rarely rested Martin Brodeur.

Josef Vasicek started a three-goal Islanders run in the second period, and Miroslav Satan added his first of the season in the spurt that was capped by Comrie's power-play tally.

In other NHL action on Saturday it was:

? Blackhawks 6, Maple Leafs 4

? Lightning 6, Thrashers 2

? Stars 3, Ducks 1

? Wild 3, Blues 1

? Red Wings 5, Coyotes 2

? Flames 4, Oilers 1
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