Penguins avoid another blown lead, break away from Capitals

Sidney Crosby scored two goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the visiting Washington Capitals 5-3 on Thursday night despite surrendering a three-goal second-period lead.

Bryan Rust had the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and had two assists for the Penguins, who had lost two straight and blew a three-goal lead Monday night in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ben Kindel also had two assists, and Arturs Silovs made 28 saves.

Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists, and Tom Wilson scored his third goal in two games for the Capitals, who were playing the second of a back-to-back after beating the St. Louis Blues 6-1 on Wednesday. Charlie Lindgren made 26 saves,

Alex Ovechkin had two assists one night after recording his 900th NHL goal.

Rust gave the Penguins a 4-3 lead at 11:16 of the third period when he re-directed Evgeni Malkin's pass home during a power play.

Connor Dewar scored into an empty net at 17:56 for the 5-3 final.

Pittsburgh had the man advantage five times and scored three goals. Washington went 0-for-3 on the power play.

Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead at 2:22 of the first period when he scored on a one-timer from the right circle off a pass across the slot from Kindel on a power play.

Crosby made it 2-0 at 11:32, knocking in the rebound of Rust's shot on a power play.

Anthony Mantha increased the lead to 3-0 at 2:08 of the second period when he scored from in front, poking the rebound of Tommy Novak's shot past Lindgren.

Strome pulled the Capitals within two at 9:41 when he received a pass from Ovechkin, turned and fired it under the crossbar from the right circle.

Rasmus Sandin made it 3-2 at 14:55, scoring on a snap shot from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Strome on the rush.

Wilson tied the score with five seconds remaining in the second period, taking a pass in the slot from Strome and shooting just inside the right post.

--Field Level Media