- Tom Wilson had a goal and two assists as the Capitals beat the Penguins 5-3
- Sidney Crosby finished minus-4 on a night Alex Ovechkin was held without a goal
- Read below for video of Wilson’s goal and both of his assists
Alex Ovechkin’s final home opener belonged to Tom Wilson.
The Capitals winger had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over the Penguins on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena. Pierre-Luc Dubois chipped in a goal and an assist, and Logan Thompson made 27 saves.
It started fast. Anthony Beauvillier beat Arturs Silovs on a backhand breakaway 23 seconds in, and Bryan Rust answered 56 seconds later in his season debut.
Wilson put Washington ahead for good at 11:51 of the first. Kris Letang threw a blind pass in his own zone, Dubois picked it off and slid a no-look feed to a wide-open Wilson in the slot:
The two linemates flipped roles in the second period. Wilson pressured Silovs behind the net, collected the puck along the boards and found Dubois alone in front for a 3-1 lead:
Then came the 2-on-0. Alex Tuch picked off a Declan Carlile pass, and he and Wilson swapped passes on the way in before Tuch tapped in the 4-1 goal at 13:14 of the second. Take a look:
Pittsburgh made it interesting. Tommy Novak and Nick Robertson scored less than four minutes apart late in the second to cut it to 4-3.
Ryan Leonard restored the cushion with a power-play goal at 3:55 of the third. Thompson then stoned Blake Lizotte on a breakaway to keep it there.
Crosby had a rough one. The Penguins captain was on the ice for all four of Washington’s even-strength goals and finished minus-4. His only worse night came on March 6, 2014, a minus-5 in San Jose.
Ovechkin didn’t find the scoresheet, putting two shots on goal in 14:05 of ice time. The night still had its moment before puck drop, when his sons Sergei and Ilya introduced him to the crowd. He’s still hunting his first goal of his final NHL season, sitting at 929 for his career.
This was the 22nd straight season Ovechkin and Crosby have faced each other. Mark Messier and Ron Francis are the only forward pair in NHL history to meet in more consecutive seasons, with 23.
Wilson has four points through three games. His line with Dubois and Tuch was on for three of Washington’s five goals, and that’s the trio Washington will lean on when the Rangers come to town Friday.
