The hottest team in the NHL will take on the defending
Stanley Cup champions today when Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals
welcome Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins for an Eastern Conference showdown
at Verizon Center.
The Capitals won their 13th consecutive game Friday night, extending the
franchise-record winning streak with a triumph over visiting Atlanta.
Washington comes into today with 86 points, placing the Caps one point ahead
of San Jose for the most in the NHL.
Pittsburgh, which ousted Washington in last spring's conference semifinals en
route to the Stanley Cup, has lost two of its last three games and is coming
off Saturday's loss in Montreal. The Penguins have 71 points and are three
behind New Jersey for first place in the Atlantic Division.
The Capitals have won the only meeting with Pittsburgh this season, notching a
6-3 victory in the Steel City on January 21. Ovechkin had two goals and an
assist to lead Washington, while Crosby had a goal for the Pens.
Ovechkin has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 17 career games against
Pittsburgh and Crosby has nine goals and 18 assists in 16 appearance versus
the Caps.
Washington has taken five of the last seven regular-season matchups with the
Penguins, but Pittsburgh has eight wins in its last 12 trips to D.C.
The Caps recorded a 5-2 victory Friday against the Thrashers, improving
Washington's record this year against Southeast Division opponents to 13-2-0.
Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom each had a goal and assist for the Caps, who
hold a 25-point lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the Southeast.
Michal Neuvirth made 43 saves in the victory, as Washington became the first
NHL club to win 13 in a row since the 2000-01 New Jersey Devils did so. The
1992-93 Penguins were the last club to win 14 in a row when they set an NHL
record with 17 consecutive victories from March 9-April 10, 1993.
"We want to win, but the most important thing is wins in the future," Ovechkin
said. "Right now we keep winning, but we'll think about the playoffs and we'll
think about what we have to do better in the playoffs."
Alexander Semin and Jason Chimera scored 68 seconds apart in the third period,
while Mike Green scored on an empty net to secure the game for Washington,
which hasn't lost since January 12.
Washington has won 10 straight on home ice and can set a new club record for
consecutive home wins tonight. The Capitals, who will play their next four
games on the road, are 22-3-3 as the host this year.
The Penguins were dealt a 5-3 loss by the Canadiens on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Gionta recorded two goals and one assist to lead Montreal to the home
victory.
Evgeni Malkin posted a goal and one assist for the Penguins, who had won four
of five coming in. Bill Guerin and Pascal Dupuis added scores as well.
Starter Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled in the third period after allowing four
goals on 28 shots. Brent Johnson finished the contest by yielding one score on
four shots.
Pittsburgh, which is 18-12-0 as the guest this year, will begin a four-game
homestand Wednesday against the New York Islanders.
On the injury front, Pens forward Chris Kunitz, out since January 3 due to
abdominal surgery, has resumed practicing and could be back in the lineup as
soon as today. The 30-year-old has produced six goals and 14 assists in 30
games this season.
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