WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Capitals maintained their unbeaten record against Pittsburgh this season with a 4-3 shootout win over the Penguins on Wednesday.
After a scoreless first period, Washington's Mike Knuble opened the scoring at 1:09 of the second before Max Talbot and Bill Guerin replied for the Penguins.
Alexander Semin and Eric Fehr restored the Caps' lead in the third period but Jordan Staal's goal with just over three minutes left in regulation sent the game into overtime.
With no goals in the extra session, the game went into a shootout where Knuble notched the winner in the fourth round.
It was Washington's third win in three meetings with the Pens this season.
Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby both failed to score in regulation but registered one assist apiece. Crosby has gone six games without a goal.
Washington (49-14-10) moved a step closer to clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference while the second-placed Penguins (42-25-7) lost their third in a row.
Washington goaltender Jose Theodore made 39 saves and made two key stops in the shootout after allowing goals on the first two Pittsburgh attempts.
"I don't know how often you get down 2-0 in a shootout and you come back," said Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau.
"It's thinking: 'Oh man, we're done, there's no way.' But I don't think we ever think that. I think that's the kind of group we have."
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
