Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals Match Player Stats On Oct 13, 2023

Evgeni Malkin had a goal and three assists, Sidney Crosby scored twice, and goaltender Tristan Jarry stopped all 19 shots he faced Friday as the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins blanked the Washington Capitals 4-0.

It was Washington's season opener and the NHL head coaching debut for the Capitals' Spencer Carbery.

It was not only a meeting between decades-long rivals, but also the 66th meeting between star centers Crosby and Alex Ovechkin of Washington. The Penguins lead in games when both play, 39-23-4.

Reilly Smith also scored, and Jake Guentzel added two assists for the Penguins, who picked up their first win.

It was Jarry's 14th career shutout, his second against the Capitals.

Washington goaltender Charlie Lindgren, starting because Darcy Kuemper and his wife welcomed a son Thursday night, was facing the Penguins for the first time. He made 31 saves.

Malkin broke the ice at 4:07 of the second. After an Ovechkin turnover, Malkin got open in the slot and took a feed from Rickard Rakell. His turning snapshot beat Lindgren glove side to make it 1-0.

Erik Karlsson picked up the secondary assist by reaching to keep the puck in the offensive zone, his first point with Pittsburgh since being acquired in a blockbuster trade in the offseason.

On a power play 1:44 later, Crosby boosted it to 2-0. He moved in from the left to the front of the net and, while falling, tipped in a rebound of a shot by Guentzel through traffic.

On a four-on-three power play, Crosby struck again, this time on a one-timer from near the bottom of the right circle at 11:46 of the second, making it 3-0.

Jarry kept Washington off the scoreboard with about four minutes left in the second when he stopped Ovechkin on a breakaway.

Smith, with his first point with the Penguins, beat Lindgren over his glove at 16:57 of the third to make it 4-0.

With 24 seconds left, Washington's Tom Wilson and Pittsburgh's Marcus Pettersson fought.

--Field Level Media