Thompson makes 24 saves, Capitals shut out Penguins to gain in Metropolitan

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals gained ground in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena on Sunday.

With the win, the Capitals pulled to within one point of the Philadelphia Flyers, who have a game in hand, for third in the Metropolitan.

“I know our guys,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “And I know that there was no way we were gonna throw the towel in and just cruise in and hopefully play .500 hockey and ride it out. It doesn’t mean we’re gonna make the playoffs, but I knew we would not pack it in, and we were gonna fight to win hockey games.”

Connor McMichael scored twice and had an assist, and Alex Ovechkin had an assist in what could potentially be his last home game for the Capitals (42-30-9), who have won seven of nine, including 6-3 against Pittsburgh in the first game of the home-and-home on Saturday.

“We need to collect the points and obviously tonight was a huge win,” Ovechkin said. “You can see everybody played hard. Everybody worked for the team and it was a great team success.”

Logan Thompson, who started back-to-back games for the first time this season, made 24 saves. It was Thompson's fourth shutout of the season and his 10th in the NHL.

“It was like a playoff atmosphere,” Thompson said. “It was electric. I think the best word to use for it is just fun. Those are games that you want to play in. And obviously, it's a little more emotional with 'Ovi,' and kind of not knowing the future.”

Stuart Skinner made 23 saves for the Penguins (41-24-16), who have already clinched second in the Metropolitan.

“Better than yesterday,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “We’ve got to find ways to score. … Opportunities for rebounds were there. We were able to generate some good looks too. Their guy played well. That’s part of the game as well. It was better than yesterday but still some things we’ve got to take away and make sure that we’re cleaning up.”

The Penguins were without forwards Noel Acciari (upper body), Anthony Mantha (lower body), and Ben Kindel (upper body), and defensemen Ryan Shea (upper body) and Connor Clifton (upper body). Each is day to day.

Ovechkin and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby played against each other for the 100th time, including the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. They have met more than any No. 1 picks in League history and more than any players who currently occupy a top 10 spot on the all-time points list.

“I think it’s still there, maybe not to the extent that it was, but hopefully people have been entertained,” Crosby said of the rivalry. “As competitors, as athletes, it’s been pretty cool to be able to be part of some big games, and that rivalry.”

Justin Sourdif appeared to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 19:16 when he deflected an Ovechkin pass off the crossbar from in front and then cleaned up the loose puck in the crease. The Penguins challenged the play for offside, and the goal was overturned after video review.

Trevor van Riemsdyk did put Washington ahead 1-0 at 12:22 of the second period after McMichael sent a pass to Pierre-Luc Dubois in front from the right boards. Dubois' backhand was initially stopped, but van Riemsdyk jammed the rebound under Skinner's right pad.

McMichael made it 2-0 at 15:50 of the third period, taking a saucer pass from Ryan Leonard on a 2-on-1 rush and sliding a backhand through the five-hole of Skinner.

“They controlled the game for a lot of third period, but we held firm and ‘LT’ was great and guys were blocking shots and making plays,” Capitals forward Dylan Strome said. “Obviously, a huge play by ‘Leno’ and ‘Mikey’ to kind of put that game away late there in third.”

McMichael took a pass from Ovechkin and scored an empty-net goal at 17:16 for the 3-0 final.

NOTES: Ovechkin became the first active player to record 80 points against the Penguins. ... Leonard tied Hartland Monahan and Evgeny Kuznetsov for the ninth-most points by a rookie in Capitals history (46). ... Washington forward Tom Wilson had his six-game point streak end (five goals, four assists). ... Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin did not play after leaving in the third period on Saturday after a check from Penguins forward Justin Brazeau.