Wideman’s OT goal powers Washington past Penguins

Associatd Press

PITTSBURGH

Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals still own the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the regular season, at least.

Dennis Wideman’s power-play goal 2:48 into overtime lifted the Capitals to a 3-2 victory Thursday night, extending their regular-season mastery over a postseason nemesis.

Washington is 12-1-2 in its last 15 regular-season meetings with Pittsburgh, including eight straight wins on the road.

“We got a little lucky, I think,” said Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom, who fed Wideman for the game-winner. “That’s hockey sometimes. It’s not always fair.”

The Capitals would know.

Pittsburgh has knocked Washington out of the Stanley Cup playoffs seven times in eight chances, though the Capitals have dominated the regular-season meetings over the last three years.

Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season and goalie Tomas Vokoun bounced back from a shaky debut with the Capitals to finish with 39 saves as Washington remained unbeaten (3-0-0).

“It’s a real tough building here, and [Vokoun] was the difference for us,” Mike Knuble said.

James Neal scored twice and Evgeni Malkin had two assists for the Penguins, who took their first non-shootout loss of the season.

Pittsburgh again played without star Sidney Crosby, though the 2007 NHL MVP was cleared for contact earlier Thursday as he continues his comeback from concussion-like symptoms.

Crosby’s return remains uncertain, though the Penguins have been just fine without him during the season’s first week, getting off to the franchise’s best start in 17 years.

They received a boost from Malkin, who sat out the previous two games.