Alex Ovechkin scored twice to spark the high-flying Washington Capitals to a 6-3 victory over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
It was a fifth straight win for the Capitals (32-12-6), but the first over Pittsburgh since the Penguins (31-20-1) stopped them 4-3 in the second round of the playoffs last year.
“We just wanted to win this game and it didn’t matter how,” Ovechkin told reporters. “We have now won five in a row and just want to continue it. It’s a big sign for us.”
PHOTO: AFP
Ovechkin recorded the first and last of four unanswered Washington goals, leveling the scores at 3-3 with a power play conversion at 16:25 in the second.
Ovechkin then watched as his teammates Tomas Fleischmann and Nicklas Backstrom netted goals 53 seconds apart in the third before the dynamic Russian added one final wrist shot with 26 seconds remaining.
Crosby, the face of the NHL along with Ovechkin, recorded his 33rd goal of the season in the first to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
Washington went ahead 2-1 on scores from Mike Knuble and Eric Fehr before the Penguins surged ahead in the second with a wrister from Nick Johnson and a slap shot by Kris Letang.
The Capitals now have a three-point lead in the Eastern Conference and have won eight of their last nine.
Goaltender Jose Theodore finished with 35 saves and had 13 in the third where he kept the defending Stanley Cup champions scoreless.
Penguins netminder Brent Johnson filled in for the injured Marc-Andre Fleury and had 28 saves. He performed well before the NHL’s top scoring team went on a run beginning late in the second.
“It’s pretty tough when teams want to shut us down right now,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I think anybody can score on the team and I think that is the way they feel on any given night, that a new hero can arise.”
The league’s two standouts did not disappoint and the supporting cast for each team also performed well. Both Knuble and Fleischmann added assists, while Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko both chipped in three assists each.
Senators 3, Blues 2
In Ottawa, Peter Regin had a goal and two assists — all on the power play — to help the Ottawa Senators edge St Louis and extend its winning streak to five.
Chris Phillips and Milan Michalek also scored for the Senators.
The Blues’ goals came via Brad Boyes and Eric Brewer.
Flyers 2, Rangers 0
In Philadelphia, Ray Emery made 24 saves for his second shutout of the season, as the Philadelphia Flyers blanked New York.
James van Riemsdyk and Mike Richards scored for the resurgent Flyers, who prevailed after a second period that involved three fights.
The Rangers have been shutout three times in the past six games.
Islanders 2, Panthers 1, SO
In Uniondale, New York, Matt Moulson scored the decisive goal in a shootout to give the New York Islanders its sixth straight home win, pipping Florida.
Rob Schremp also found the net in the shootout, while goalie Dwayne Roloson turned away both Panthers’ attempts.
Blake Comeau scored in regulation for New York.
Blue Jackets 3, Bruins 2
In Boston, R.J. Umberger tipped in Anton Stralman’s power-play slap shot with 1:16 remaining to give Columbus a comeback victory over the Boston Bruins.
In other NHL action, it was:
• Lightning 3, Maple Leafs 2, OT
• Hurricanes 5, Thrashers 2
• Blackhawks 3, Flames 1
• Sharks 3, Ducks 1
• Kings 4, Sabres 3, SO
• Coyotes 4, Predators 2
• Canucks 4, Stars 3
• Red Wings 4, Wild 3, SO
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