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Star power: Ovechkin, Caps visit Crosby's Penguins

Thu 16th, October 2008

(Sports Network) - Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will aim for their third consecutive victory when they visit Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at Mellon Arena.

The Capitals lost their season opener in Atlanta, but responded with home victories over Chicago and Vancouver. Michael Nylander scored on a penalty shot and added two assists to help Washington to its most recent triumph, a 5-1 rout of the Canucks on Monday at the Verizon Center. Washington now gets another chance to add its first road victory tonight in the Steel City.

Alexander Semin scored twice, Mike Green added a goal and an assist and Milan Jurcina also lit the lamp in Monday's victory.

Brent Johnson only allowed one goal on just 10 shots against him, picking up his 100th career victory. The Washington defense was superb -- allowing a franchise-best 10 shots on goal -- while the offense peppered a pair of Vancouver goaltenders with 35 shots.

Ovechkin, the league's reigning MVP, led the NHL with 65 goals in 2007-08 and has two tallies in the first three games of the new season. Both tallies came in Saturday's win against Chicago. The 23-year-old Russian winger has notched 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in 15 career games against Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, the Penguins ended a two-game losing streak (0-1-1) with Tuesday's overtime victory over visiting Philadelphia. Pascal Dupuis scored with 10.8 seconds remaining in the extra session to lead the Pens to the 3-2 decision. The clubs were meeting for the first time since Pittsburgh eliminated the Flyers in five games in the Eastern Conference finals.

Following a scoreless third period that featured four power plays, two for each squad, Orpik sent a long lead pass to Dupuis, racing down the left wing, and the speedy forward's booming slap shot beat Antero Niittymaki on the glove side.

Brooks Orpik registered a goal and an assist for the Penguins, while Marc- Andre Fleury made 28 saves to record the win.

Crosby, who preceded Ovechkin as the Hart Trophy winner in 2006-07, has just two assists in four games this year and has been held pointless in two straight contests. The 21-year-old Nova Scotian has excellent numbers against the Caps in his career, posting 19 points (7g, 12a) in 11 games.

The Penguins are 1-1-1 so far in a five-game homestand that ends Saturday against Toronto. Pittsburgh had a 26-10-5 record at the Igloo in 2007-08.

Pittsburgh has dominated the Capitals in recent years, taking seven of eight, 11 of 13 and 12 of the last 15 meetings between the clubs. Washington has also been dealt losses in 10 of its previous 12 trips to Pittsburgh.