WASHINGTON — Evgeni Malkin netted the decisive goal in the latter half of the third period, guiding the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night. This matchup marked the 95th encounter between NHL stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

While the spotlight was primarily on Crosby and Ovechkin, Malkin made his mark early by assisting on Erik Karlsson’s goal just over three minutes into the first period. He then scored the game-winning goal with just under ten minutes remaining in regulation. Malkin currently leads the Penguins in scoring with 18 points as the team secured its sixth win of the season after 16 games. Michael Bunting also contributed a goal, which was set up by Karlsson, complemented by 32 saves from rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist.

Noel Acciari capped off the evening with an empty-net goal in the final 22.9 seconds, effectively sealing the deal for Pittsburgh. The Capitals saw goals from Rasmus Sandin and Andrew Mangiapane, but their seven-game winning streak at home came to a halt. Charlie Lindgren, in a noble effort for Washington, recorded 28 spectacular saves despite the loss.

**Takeaways**

For the Penguins, Karlsson, who was recently called out by head coach Mike Sullivan, made an impressive comeback, contributing two points within the game’s first seven minutes. Although he may be past his prime at age 34, the three-time Norris Trophy winner displayed his offensive talent brilliantly.

On the other hand, the Capitals had been riding a wave of success, but perhaps they were due for a slight regression, evidenced by a few missed opportunities in front of an open net.

**Key Moment**

A critical moment occurred during Washington’s final power play of the night when Blomqvist thwarted two close-range shots from Taylor Raddysh in quick succession, showcasing his skills under pressure.

**Key Stat**

The Capitals struggled during their power play, going 0 for 3 and failing to convert during over five minutes of advantage play. They have now scored only twice on their last 40 opportunities since October 17.

**Upcoming Games**

The Capitals will travel to St. Louis for their next matchup on Saturday, while the Penguins will enjoy a breather before returning home to take on the Dallas Stars on Monday night.