Crosby extends point streak for Penguins in win against Capitals

WASHINGTON-- Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to seven games with two assists for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 4-2 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Friday.

Crosby has scored 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) during his streak.
Jeff Carter scored his third goal in two games for the Penguins (13-8-5), who have won three straight. Tristan Jarry made 29 saves for Pittsburgh, which led 3-0 entering the third period.
"I thought we were quick to pucks in the offensive zone, and for me that's when our team is at its best, when we're up in fives and we're playing an in-your-face style of play," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "We weathered the storm, but I thought the first 40 minutes in particular we were real good."
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Lars Eller scored for the Capitals (16-5-6), who lost in regulation at home for the second time (9-2-4). Ilya Samsonov made 29 saves.
"I thought mentally we were just a step behind," Washington forward T.J. Oshie said. "We shot ourselves in the foot quite a bit. We did get some chances, we got some breaks and weren't able to put it in the back of the net, and sometimes we wouldn't get a shot off. Just not our best game."

Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin had two assists and has scored 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in his past 10 games. He remained one short of the NHL power-play goals record held by Dave Andreychuk (274).
Crosby and Ovechkin played their 60th regular-season game against each other; Crosby has won 36.
With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Eller scored to pull the Capitals within 3-2 with 2:46 left in the third period, but Carter scored into the empty net off a pass from Crosby with 1:53 remaining for the 4-2 final.
"We still made it a one-goal game at the end," Eller said. "But it was too steep to climb today."
Danton Heinen gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead 16:16 of the first period when he worked a give-and-go with John Marino in the right circle and redirected the return pass in the slot.
"He made a great play and then he went to the net," Marino said of Heinen. "I was a little surprised at how open he was."
Brock McGinn's pass to Teddy Blueger in front of the net deflected off Kuznetsov to make it 2-0 at 8:37 of the second period.
Kasperi Kapanen, filling in for injured Jake Guentzel on the top line, made it 3-0 when he scored off a pass from Crosby during a 3-on-2 at 11:42.
"I thought he had a great game," Sullivan said of Kapanen. "He was strong on the puck. I thought he challenged Washington with his speed. He scores a great goal. ... You could tell he was excited to play, and he certainly stepped up for us tonight."

Kuznetsov scored on a backhand off a pass from Ovechkin on the rush to pull the Capitals within 3-1 at 7:33 of the third period.
"Pittsburgh doesn't give up a lot offensively and so you've got to grind it out and fight for even 10 even-strength scoring chances," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. "Problem is, when I look back on the game is, we gave up 15-17 even-strength scoring chances."
NOTES: Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary left the game because of an upper-body injury at 9:17 of the second period after a hit by McGinn. Capitals forward Tom Wilson (upper body) did not play the third period after a collision with Jarry late in the second. Laviolette said Fehervary and Wilson were being evaluated. ... Pittsburgh has killed 28 straight penalties over 12 games (2-for-2 Friday). ... Crosby has scored 82 points (28 goals, 54 assists) and Ovechkin has scored 60 points (31 goals, 29 assists) in the 60 games against each other. ... Guentzel missed his first game with an upper-body injury. ... Eller scored his 328th NHL point (143 goals, 185 assists) to pass Mikkel Boedker for second among Denmark-born players. Frans Nielsen (473) is first.