WASHINGTON -- Matt Niskanen scored the winner during a third-period power play and the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 Tuesday night in an entertaining, back-and-forth showdown that could be a first-round playoff preview.
Mike Richards and Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored for the NHL-leading Capitals, and Braden Holtby made 28 saves while becoming the first goaltender in franchise history with consecutive 40-win seasons. His glove stop on Carl Hagelin with 32.8 seconds left preserved the victory.
After losing to the defending Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, Washington again avoided losing back-to-back games in regulation.