Penguins continue hot streak

WASHINGTON — A lot less talk, a lot more action.

Unlike their last meeting, Sidney Crosby avoided any face-to-face confrontations with fellow MVP Alex Ovechkin on Sunday, instead producing a goal and assist in regulation, then the shootout winner to help Pittsburgh edge Washington 4-3 — the Penguins' sixth consecutive victory and the Capitals' fourth straight loss.

After Crosby lifted his shot over Jose Theodore's glove, Marc-Andre Fleury thwarted Ovechkin with a kick save to end the shootout. Fleury also stopped Alexander Semin and Viktor Kozlov to help Pittsburgh complete the first 5-0 trip in franchise history.

RANGERS 4, BRUINS 3: At New York, Sean Avery was warmly welcomed by Rangers fans in his first home game at Madison Square Garden in nearly a year, and newcomer Nik Antropov had a goal and assist to help New York win its third straight.

Avery, who rejoined the Rangers this week after being banished by Dallas following crude comments he made in December, assisted on Ryan Callahan's second-period goal.

CANADIENS 3, STARS 1: At Dallas, Carey Price made 31 saves, Andrei Kostitsyn, Alex Kovalev and Chris Higgins scored, and Montreal killed nine of 10 power plays.

With the victory, the Canadiens jumped to fifth in the Eastern Conference and improved to 4-12-1 in their last 17 road games.

AVALANCHE 5, BLACKHAWKS 1: At Chicago, Peter Budaj made 24 saves, and Marek Svatos and Ryan Smyth each had a goal and an assist to help Colorado end a six-game losing streak.

Ben Guite, Chris Stewart, Milan Hejduk also scored, and Tyler Arnason had three assists.

THRASHERS 5, FLAMES 2: At Atlanta, Bryan Little scored twice, Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and an assist and Atlanta won consecutive games in regulation for the first time since Jan. 20.

Chris Thorburn and Tobias Enstrom also scored for Atlanta, and Kari Lehtonen made 27 saves.

ISLANDERS 3, COYOTES 2: At Uniondale, N.Y., Yann Danis made 30 saves, and Jeff Tambellini, Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo scored for New York, 9-2-2 in its last 13 games.

Scottie Upshall and Shane Doan scored for Phoenix, and Josh Tordjman made 23 saves in his NHL debut. The Coyotes have lost five of six.

WILD 3, DUCKS 2: At Anaheim, Calif., Stephane Veilleux scored twice and Niklas Backstrom made 36 saves for Minnesota, 10th in the Western Conference playoff race.

Andrew Brunette also scored for Minnesota.