WASHINGTON — Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins got the better ofAlex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, just like they always do.

Crosby set up the go-ahead goal on a power play, Ovechkin was held without apoint for the first time this season, and Pittsburgh beat Washington 2-1Saturday night.

The Penguins won for the second night in a row; the Capitals have droppedfour consecutive games after opening the season 3-0.

It was the ninth NHL meeting between two of the league’s young superstars,and the Penguins have won eight. Part of the reason for the success? Ovechkin — who edged Crosby for top rookie honors in 2005-06 — has no goals or assists inthree of the past four games between the teams.

Players and coaches from both sides can talk all they want about how thesecontests are about much more than Sid the Kid and Alexander the Great — a coupleof forwards who both reached 200 points faster than any other active NHLers — but it was clear who the spectators came to see.

Crosby was booed loudly by Washington’s fans every time he touched the puck.And a sizable group of Penguins supporters in the sellout crowd of 18,277returned the favor, jeering Ovechkin whenever the puck was on his stick.Ovechkin checked Crosby early in the third period, setting off a chain reactionof hits that nearly led to a brawl involving other players.

The biggest bunch of noise generated by anyone came late in the secondperiod, with the Penguins on a power play after Mike Green was sent off forhigh-sticking Crosby.

The reigning NHL scoring champion and MVP sent a cross-ice pass to RyanWhitney, whose slap shot beat Brent Johnson 17:59 into the second to make it2-1. It was the 100th career point for Whitney, in his third season.

Johnson started in place of regular goalie Olie Kolzig, who is 2-6-1 with a4.21 goals-against average in his last nine games against Pittsburgh.

The Penguins tied it 1-1 nearly 4 minutes into the second period on JordanStaal’s first goal of the season. It came 8 seconds after Washington fought offa power play, including a 5-on-3 Pittsburgh advantage for 51 seconds.

Washington went ahead 1-0 on defenseman Brian Pothier’s goal of the season,13:45 into the game. That extended a season-opening run in which a blue linerhas at least one point in every game for Washington.

Pothier’s goal was set up with passes by Michael Nylander and rookie NicklasBackstrom, who raised his team-leading total to five assists. Matt Pettingerscreened Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury on the play.

Fleury finished with 30 saves. The Capitals put the puck off a post in thefirst period, and Pettinger had a shot dribble off the line and stop next to apost late in the second. Ovechkin tried to set up Chris Clark for a tying scoreon a breakaway with 1:45 left in the game, but the center couldn’t quite get hisstick on the puck.

Notes

Washington F Alexander Semin missed his sixth game of the season,although his injured right ankle is healed and he’s closing in on a return tothe lineup, perhaps Friday against Vancouver. “Now it’s a matter of getting hisconditioning back. I don’t think it’s so much the injury any more,” coach GlenHanlon said. “I don’t want to put a specific date. It’s going to be up tohim.” … Capitals C Boyd Gordon returned to action after missing three gameswith back spasms.