In Washington, DC, Sidney Crosby struck for a goal and two points in a 2-1 win for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Capitals.
Despite being mired in a so-so season, the Pens can still bedevil the Capitals.
“I think when you play these game, these rival type games, there’s an elevated level of emotion associated with it, and my experience of being around Sid is he’s at his best in those situations,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said.
The Pens improved to 16-12-6 and are 6-2-1 in their last nine.
Matt Murray made 31 saves in the win.
Lars Eller scored the lone goal for the Caps.
“It’s always a battle out there against them and certainly it was ratcheted up a few notches from most other games I would say this season,” Washington’s John Carlson said. “Stinks we came up on it the wrong side of it.
“I think we played good enough to give ourselves a chance but didn’t really put ourselves over the top by any means.”
The Caps dropped to 20-10-3.
Bryan Rust scored late in the middle frame to give the Pens as 2-1 lead.
[WATCH: All Penguins vs. Capitals highlights]
Braden Holtby made 28 saves in the loss.
“Yeah it [kind of] shows how close the game was,” Holtby said. “Obviously it was a strange play on that second goal, and then we have a couple that kind of leaked through them and off the post and the guy gets it on the goal line. Sometimes games come down to inches, like everyone says.”
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