Crosby lifts Penguins by Capitals
Sidney Crosby and the Penguins got the better of Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, just like they always do.
Crosby set up the go-ahead goal on a power play, Ovechkin was held without a point for the first time this season, and Pittsburgh beat host Washington, 2-1, last night.
The Penguins won for the second night in a row; the Capitals have dropped four consecutive games after opening the season, 3-0.
It was the ninth NHL meeting between two of the league's young superstars, and the Penguins have won eight. Part of the reason for the success? Ovechkin - who edged Crosby for top rookie honors in 2005-06 - has no goals or assists in three of the past four games between the teams.
Players and coaches from both sides can talk all they want about how these contests are about much more than Sid the Kid and Alexander the Great - a couple of forwards who both reached 200 points faster than any other active NHLers - but it was clear who the spectators came to see.
Crosby was booed loudly by Washington's fans every time he touched the puck. And a sizable group of Penguins supporters in the sellout crowd of 18,277 returned the favor, jeering Ovechkin whenever the puck was on his stick.
Canadiens 4, Sabres 2 - Chris Higgins scored on a two-man advantage 12:38 into the third and added an empty-net goal to lift host Montreal over Buffalo.
Higgins flicked a backhand toward the net that bounced off goalie Ryan Miller's right arm and into the net with Montreal enjoying a five-on-three. He scored again into an empty net with 24.9 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Islanders 4, Devils 3 - Bill Guerin's power-play goal with 3.7 seconds left in overtime gave New York the victory after it squandered a two-goal lead against New Jersey in Uniondale, N.Y.
The Islanders captain got to a loose puck in front after it kicked around following a shot by Mike Comrie. He smacked it past backup goalie Kevin Weekes, subbing for a rarely rested Martin Brodeur.
Blackhawks 6, Maple Leafs 4 - Visiting Chicago scored five goals in the third period to rally past Toronto.
Jason Williams, Andrei Zyuzin, Duncan Keith, Robert Lang, Patrick Sharp, and Tuomo Ruutu, with an empty-netter with 25 seconds left, scored for the Blackhawks.
Red Wings 5, Coyotes 2 - Kirk Maltby scored a pair of second-period goals and Detroit rallied to beat Phoenix in Glendale, Ariz.
Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and an assist and Jiri Hudler and Brett Lebda also scored for the Red Wings, who have won three of their last four.
Flames 4, Oilers 1 - Jarome Iginla scored the go-ahead goal and added two assists to lead host Calgary past Edmonton.
Kristian Huselius, Dion Phaneuf, and Adrian Aucoin also scored for Calgary (4-2-2). The Flames have earned points in five straight games (4-0-1) and have begun a season-long seven-game homestand with two straight wins.
Sharks 3, Predators 0 - Jeremy Roenick scored a power-play goal early in the second period and San Jose finally won at home, beating Nashville.
Evgeni Nabokov stopped 22 shots to record his first shutout of the season, and the 35th of his career, in the first meeting of the two teams since the Sharks eliminated Nashville in the first round of last year's playoffs.
Lightning 6, Thrashers 2 - Martin St. Louis and Mathieu Darche scored 39 seconds apart during a three-goal second period to help host Tampa Bay beat Atlanta.
Tampa Bay got two goals from Vinny Prospal. Chris Gratton and Vincent Lecavalier had the other goals.
Senators 4, Panthers 1 - Ray Emery made 31 saves in his first regular-season start of the season to help Ottawa beat visiting Florida.
Emery, who underwent offseason wrist surgery, did play two games last weekend for the Senators' AHL affiliate in Binghamton, stopping 80 of 86 shots.
Flyers 3, Hurricanes 2 - Simon Gagne scored his second goal of the game 48 seconds into overtime and host Philadelphia defeated Carolina for its fifth straight victory.
Mike Richards also scored for the Flyers, who won their fourth straight at home. The Flyers have not won five straight games since Dec. 22-29, 2005.
Wild 3, Blues 1 - Eric Belanger had a goal and an assist, Josh Harding made 33 saves, and Minnesota remained the NHL's only unbeaten team by beating host St. Louis.
Stars 3, Ducks 1 - Mike Ribeiro and Jere Lehtinen each had a goal and an assist to help host Dallas beat Anaheim.
