Washington: Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby scored his 20th goal of the season as the Penguins won 4-3 at Washington on Wednesday, averting a sweep of the season series between the teams and opening a mini-gap on their perennial division rivals.
Victory moved the Penguins three points above the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division, and the same margin from the division-leading New York Islanders.
Also on Wednesday, Ottawa produced an upset by winning comfortably at Pacific Division leaders Anaheim, while Calgary moved into a provisional play-off spot with victory at New Jersey.
Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin had three assists, while Patric Hornqvist, Brandon Sutter and Chris Kunitz also scored for the Penguins, who have won three straight.
Crosby and Malkin both earned their first points of the season against Washington, who won the first three meetings by a combined score of 10-1.
Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson and Troy Brouwer scored for the Capitals.
Ottawa goaltender Andrew Hammond made 25 saves to earn his first NHL shutout in his third career start, helping the Senators to a 3-0 win at Anaheim.
Hammond, who got the chance to play because of injuries to Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner, has backstopped the Senators to three straight victories, stopping 88 of 91 shots.
It is Ottawa’s first three-game winning streak since the opening days of the season.
Erik Condra, Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris scored for Ottawa, who are on their first three-game streak since the fifth game of the season.
The Ducks were blanked for the third time this season.
Calgary moved into a tie for seventh in the Western Conference by winning 3-1 at New Jersey.
