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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mario Lemieux's absence from the Pittsburgh
Penguins' lineup didn't concern the Washington Capitals as much as
the prospect of their first three-game losing streak of the season.
|  | | Richard Zednik, top, celebrates the first of two goals against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Capitals' win. |
Richard Zednik scored twice in the third period as the Capitals
made the most of Lemieux's decision to rest his ailing back
Saturday night, ending a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory
over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Zednik whacked in Peter Bondra's rebound on a power play with
11:25 left in the third period, erasing a 3-2 Penguins lead with
his 14th goal.
Then, with 6:00 left in the game, he dashed down the right wing
and used a maze of players in front of the goal as a screen,
tucking a wrist shot inside the right post.
"It was important for us, especially against Pittsburgh because
they are such a great offensive team," said Zednik. "We proved
tonight we can come from behind, not only win when we hold teams to
two or one goals."
Jan Hrdina barely missed tying the game with 17.8 seconds left
in regulation when his shot from the left circle was gloved in
midair by goaltender Olaf Kolzig, who made 25 stops.
"I thought it went in," Penguins defenseman Kevin Stevens
said. "Obviously, he made a hell of a save. You don't ever expect
a guy to make a save like that."
Robert Lang tallied twice and Jaromir Jagr also scored for
Pittsburgh, which had won four of five games.
Jeff Halpern scored two goals for the Capitals, whose losing
streak followed a 10-0-2 unbeaten run.
"We weren't too concerned about Pittsburgh owning us for the
last couple of years," Kolzig said. "We were more concerned about
those two losses."
Lemieux, resting a sore back in the second night of consecutive
games, missed his first game since returning from a 3 1/2-year
retirement.
"Regardless of who was out there, ... it's a game we needed to
win, just for our own confidence," Halpern said.
In the first 28 games of his comeback, Lemieux had 24 goals and
23 assists, including two goals and two assists Friday night in a
7-5 road victory over the New York Rangers. He is expected to play
in the Penguins' next game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday against
Washington.
"We started without Mario and we have to find ways to win
without him," Jagr said.
Halpern deflected Calle Johansson's slap shot from the right
point for a 1-0 Washington lead 42 seconds into the game.
At 5:50 on a power play, Lang scored his 27th goal from the left
circle. With 3:56 left in the period, Lang sent a wrist shot from
the left circle through defenseman Sylvain Cote's legs and past the
outstretched stick of goalie Olaf Kolzig for his 100th career goal.
Halpern answered with 2:56 to go in the first, scoring when his
shot from the left side glanced off the goalie Rich Parent's glove.
Jagr restored the Penguins' lead early in the second period on
the man advantage. From the right circle, he wristed a cross-ice
pass from Janne Laukkanen.
Game notes
The Capitals recalled G Corey Hirsch from Portland of the
American Hockey League after G Craig Billington bruised his right
hand in practice Friday. Billington is day-to-day. ... RW Brantt
Myhres also was summoned from Portland as Washington scratched LW
Chris Simon (sore shoulder), RW Dmitri Khristich (bruised foot) and
RW Ulf Dahlen (sore back). ... Myhres' Capitals debut lasted only
seven seconds. He instigated a fight with Krzysztof Oliwa 2:33 into
the game and received a game misconduct for losing his sweater. ...
Pittsburgh is 6-8-5-0 this season in the second of back-to-back
games.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 3
San Jose 2
Buffalo 3
Colorado 2
Florida 2
Atlanta 2
Montreal 3
Philadelphia 1
Tampa Bay 6
NY Islanders 0
Ottawa 3
Toronto 2
Washington 4
Pittsburgh 3
Calgary 3
St. Louis 2
Los Angeles 6
Detroit 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Olaf Kolzig's amazing save with 17.8 seconds left preserves Washington's lead.
avi: 1750 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Richard Zednik's second goal puts Washington ahead late in the third period.
avi: 1300 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Janne Laukkanen finds Jaromir Jagr for Pittsburgh's third goal of the game.
avi: 129 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jeff Halpern beats goalie Rich Parent for his second goal of the period.
avi: 980 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Robert Lang scores his first goal of the night on a one-timer from Martin Straka.
avi: 1340 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jeff Halpern redirects a Calle Johansson shot for an early first period goal.
avi: 1130 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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