Feb 17, 2015 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – Alexander Ovechkin picked up his NHL-leading 37th goal and assisted on Joel Ward’s winner with just over four minutes remaining to lift the Washington Capitals to a testy 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night.

Ovechkin beat Marc-Andre Fleury on a breakaway in the first period. He then helped set up Ward’s first career goal against the Penguins as Washington improved to 3-0 against Pittsburgh. John Carlson added a short-handed empty-net goal with 11 seconds remaining.

Braden Holtby made 30 saves for the Capitals, who pulled within a point of the third-place Penguins in the crowded Metropolitan Division.

Steve Downie collected his 10th goal of the season for Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 shots but surrendered a pair of power-play goals, including Ward’s in a 5-on-3 with 4:13 to play.

Reunited in the same division and with the prospect of another playoff series looming, the longtime rivals returned to their antagonistic roots. The moment when the rivalry perhaps reignited came early in the third period, when Ovechkin clubbed Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang in the legs. There was no penalty called and Pittsburgh’s attempts to retaliate led to a string of Washington power plays.

Letang returned after a short stint in the training room, and with Chris Kunitz already off for boarding was called for slashing with 4:45 remaining to give the Capitals a two-man advantage. Fleury stopped Ovechkin’s blast from the point, but the rebound went to Nicklas Backstrom, who slipped a pass to Ward. The veteran forward flipped it over Fleury for Ward’s first goal in 17 career games against Pittsburgh.

The Capitals dominated the first two meetings, outscoring the Penguins 7-0 in a pair of lopsided victories. But they came in trailing Pittsburgh by three points in the cramped top half of the Metropolitan.

The Penguins have collected themselves after a bumpy stretch in January behind steady play from Fleury and the return of Sidney Crosby’s scoring touch.

Ovechkin gave the Capitals the lead late in the first period with his league-leading 17th power-play goal. The Russian star spent most of the man advantage camped out in his familiar spot in the left faceoff circle. Pittsburgh appeared on the verge of a vital clear when Paul Martin gave it up at center ice. Ovechkin pounced on the mistake and broke in alone on Fleury. A quick deke produced a backhander so quick it smacked off the back bar and out, forcing officials to take a look just to make sure it crossed the goal line.

Holtby’s scoreless streak against Pittsburgh ended at 1:43:35 — better than seven periods — when Downie raced in following a mad scramble in front of the net and poked in the puck. The score seemed to jolt the Penguins to life, setting the table for a taut finish.

Pittsburgh went 0 for 3 on the power play and has now gone 0 for 18 since scoring against New Jersey on Jan. 30. … Washington scratched Fs Aaron Volpatti and Jason Chimera and D Steve Olesky. … Pittsburgh scratched D Christian Ehrhoff. Forward Zach Sill was a healthy scratch. … The Penguins host Columbus on Thursday. Washington welcomes Winnipeg.