PITTSBURGH –– Defenseman Matt Niskanen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Sidney Crosby had two assists and the Pittsburgh Penguins extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
Niskanen’s goal at 11:58 came nine seconds after the Penguins killed a four-minute penalty in the third period.
The winning streak is the longest of the season for the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins and the second-longest in the NHL this season.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves and Crosby picked up his NHL-leading 36th and 37th assists for the Penguins, who were without reigning MVP Evgeni Malkin (shoulder) for the sixth game in a row. The Penguins were also without defenseman Kris Letang (lower-body injury).
Braden Holtby made 34 saves for Washington.
RANGERS 3, DEVILS 2: In Newark, N.J., Michael Del Zotto scored a short-handed goal and set up Rick Nash’s game-winner to lead the New York as it won its second game in two nights after a three-game losing streak and moved into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, the cutoff point for the playoffs.
PANTHERS 4, HURRICANES 1: In Raleigh, N.C., Tomas Fleischmann, Marcel Goc and Shawn Matthias scored 6:12 apart in the third period to lead last-place Florida as the Panthers snapped their six-game losing streak.
SENATORS 5, ISLANDERS 3: In Uniondale, N.Y., Sergei Gonchar scored with 1 minute left for Ottawa, which who netted four goals in the third period and rallied for its third straight win.
BLUE JACKETS 4, PREDATORS 3: In Columbus, Ohio, Sergei Bobrovksy shook off a slap shot to his mask and withstood two late goals, and Mark Letestu had a goal and an assist as Columbus extended its franchise-record point streak to 11 games.
Fedor Tyutin, Nikita Nikitin and Derick Brassard also scored for Columbus, which is on a 7-0-4 run. The Blue Jackets won this one with their offense that ranks last in the NHL.
SABRES 3, CANADIENS 2, OT: In Montreal, Steve Ott’s second goal of the game at 2:16 of overtime to lift Buffalo, which is 5-5-3 under coach Ron Rolston since Lindy Ruff was fired Feb. 20.
JETS 3, BRUINS 1: In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Blake Wheeler and Evander Kane scored 57 seconds apart in the third period and Winnipeg rallied and passed Carolina again to take the lead in the Southeast Division with 34 points. Brad Marchand scored for the Bruins.
