Sidney Crosby, red-hot power play lead Penguins to win over Alex Ovechkin's Capitals

Matt Vensel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 6, 2025

Published in Hockey

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PITTSBURGH — In the latest edition of Crosby versus Ovechkin and during another game in which the Penguins blew a 3-0 lead, the Pittsburgh power play managed to take center stage.

The Penguins scored a season-high three power-play goals in Thursday’s 5-3 victory against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena, snapping a two-game skid. Sidney Crosby got the first two. Bryan Rust buried the biggest one.

For the second straight game, the Penguins were unable to protect a 3-0 lead. And tensions in the building were high as the game was tied midway through the final frame. But the home team took back control when Rust scored with 8:44 left to go.

Evgeni Malkin made a great pass through the defense to find Rust on the doorstep.

Crosby scored twice in the first period to help the Penguins race out to a 2-0 lead.

He put the Penguins in front just 2:22 into the period. Rookie Ben Kindel set up the captain for that one-timer. In doing so, the 18-year-old notched his first NHL assist.

Crosby added another power-play goal by whacking in a rebound later in the first.

Anthony Mantha scored against his former team to push it to 3-0 in the second. He jumped on another juicy rebound left out there by Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren.

However, the Penguins could not avoid the same fate they had Monday in Toronto, when they allowed four goals in the third period and lost, 4-3. The main difference this time around was they didn’t wait until the final frame to cough up that 3-0 lead.

Dylan Strome got the Capitals got on the board midway through the second period, after the Penguins let up for a moment. Parker Wotherspoon and Philip Tomasino were too casual on a breakout and the Capitals cashed in on a Tomasino giveaway.

Rasmus Sandin made it 3-2 by beating Arturs Silovs through his five hole — a chasm so wide the Monongahela Incline might have squeezed between the goalie’s pads.

Then with 3.6 seconds left in the second, Tom Wilson beat Silovs from the slot. The Penguins failed to get a clear, giving the visitors that opportunity to beat the buzzer.

After Rust put the Penguins in front, Connor Dewar hit an empty net to ice the win.

It was over when ...

Dewar, who had another strong game at both 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill, scored from center ice into the empty net. He got that insurance goal with 2:04 left to go.

Stat of the game

35 — goals for Crosby in his 74 career games against Ovechkin. Ovi still holds the edge in goals in their rivalry with 38, but Sid has out-produced him in points, 97-68.

Around the boards

— By scoring twice in the first period, Crosby grabbed the NHL lead in goals with 11.

— Heading into the game, Kindel was promoted up to the top line with Crosby and Rust. The rookie forward lined up at right wing. He picked up two points in the win.

— The Penguins have scored a power-play goal in four consecutive games. Thursday was the fourth time this season that they had multiple power-play tallies in a game.

— Silovs was shaky again but made 28 saves to snap his three-game losing streak.

— Sergei Murashov served as Silovs’ backup. The Penguins have a back-to-back this weekend, and the 21-year-old goalie is expected to start one of those two games.

— Ryan Graves and Danton Heinen both made their season debuts for Pittsburgh.

— Filip Hallander sat out the game with a lower-body injury. His status is day to day.

— Harrison Brunicke and Matt Dumba were healthy scratches. Brunicke is still sitting at nine NHL games played. Once he plays in 10, his entry-level deal will kick in. Prior to the game, coach Dan Muse said no decision has been made regarding his future.

Coming up next

The Penguins are slated to practice Friday. This weekend, they will visit New Jersey on Saturday then return home to host the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.