n 12 games this month, but this one was special for Ca

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Washington Capitals enjoyed one of their best defensive efforts against one of the leagues top offensive teams.The Capitals, known for their offensive firepower, did it with defence on Saturday as Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots and Eric Fehr scored two goals, leading to a 3-0 victory against the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.You could tell they were pressing a little bit, and I think thats when we play our best, when we get a lead, Fehr said. We try to get the other team playing out of their comfort zone. I think we frustrated them a little bit with the style of play we had.Fehr, who scored twice during the Capitals win in the 2011 Winter Classic at Pittsburgh, did it again on Saturday with his eighth and ninth goals of the year. Marcus Johansson got his 10th for the Capitals, who won for the fifth time in seven games.Washington also defeated Pittsburgh for the first time since Jan. 22, 2012 — a span of nine games.Holtby, making a career-high 12th straight start, has eight wins during that stretch. It was his 16th win and third shutout of the season on Saturday.I thought we did a great job of everything in the defensive zone, Holtby said. A team like that, theyre obviously going to get some chances, but the way we controlled them in our end was very good.The Penguins, who saw a five-game home win streak end, lost their third straight overall, dropping back-to-back regulation games for the first time this season. Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves.Johansson gave Washington a two-goal lead at 5:36 of the third period, snapping a wrist shot past Fleury from the top of the circle during a two-on-one.Fehr was falling to the ice later in the third when he tapped Joel Wards redirection behind Fleury from the top of the crease for his second goal.Its frustrating because we were close, especially in the second, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. The next goal is so important and they grabbed the momentum with that second goal. We were hanging around for awhile, but didnt have enough to get that first one.Washington has eight wins in 12 games this month, but this one was special for Capitals defencemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen. Both played with Pittsburgh last season before signing in Washington as free agents in July. Capitals assistant coach Todd Reirden also was an assistant with the Penguins last season.I think everybody in the room wanted to get the game for (Orpik) and (Niskanen), but also Todd, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. Theyve been great adds for us.Niskanen led all NHL defencemen with a plus-33 rating last year, establishing a career-best 46 points. Orpik, who won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, appeared in 703 games, a team record for a defenceman, recording 132 points and 734 penalty minutes. The Penguins picked him in the first round of the 2000 NHL draft and he spent 11 seasons in Pittsburgh.Id be lying if I said it didnt feel a little better than most games, Orpik said. We knew they were missing some guys, so its a good opportunity to kind of jump on them.The Penguins continue to deal with injury and a league-wide mumps outbreak.Forward Steve Downie and backup goaltender Thomas Greiss were the latest confirmed cases, joining captain Sidney Crosby, who missed three games earlier this month, forward Beau Bennett and defenceman Olli Maatta.It feels like every game were losing somebody, Crosby said. Its not easy, but nobodys going to feel sorry for us. We just have to find a way to hold on while guys are out.NOTES: Maatta will be out four weeks while continuing a rehab program on an upper-body injury. The Capitals have earned a point in 10 of their last 12 road games. The Penguins visit New Jersey on Monday. . Pittsburgh scratched D Brian Dumoulin in addition to Downie and Greiss, while Washington sat LW Jason Chimera and D Nate Schmidt. Pittsburgh recorded its 300th straight sellout...The Capitals visit the New York Islanders on Monday, playing on the road for the sixth time in seven games, before opening 2015 at Nationals Park in Washington, where they will meet the Chicago Blackhawks in the annual Winter Classic. Chad Ruhwedel Penguins Jersey . Just ask Arsenal fans. However, Arsene Wenger has repeatedly told anyone willing to listen that finishing in that spot is more important than winning a cup competition. Mark Recchi Penguins Jersey . The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was still dealing with the right shin he broke in a crash which ended his Tour de France on Stage 10. He hoped to defy his doctors and race in the home Grand Tour he won in 2008 and 2012, but he says there have been complications in his recovery. http://www.penguinsauthenticofficial.com/ . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St. Paul Martin Jersey . The above paragraph could be rewritten, verbatim, with Marcus Stromans name in place of Romeros. After both men had disastrous outings in Tuesdays 18-4 mauling at the hands of the Tigers, its clear that neither is the best option to begin the season in Toronto. Mario Lemieux Jersey . -- The Guelph Storm are moving on to the Western Conference final after defeating the London Knights 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action.BANFF, Alta. - Olympic gold medallist and World Cup champion Marielle Thompson won a photo finish to take top honours at the Canadian ski cross championship Friday. The 21-year-old from Whistler, B.C., beat out teammate Georgia Simmerling of West Vancouver, B.C., to cap off a notable season, which included gold at the Sochi Games and gold at the final World Cup race of the year to claim her second career Crystal Globe. With Simmerling hot on her heels in the womens final, a late lunge for the line by Thompson gave her victory by the slimmest of margins. "That was pretty exciting. I won by the length of a broken thumb," said Thompson, who tore a ligament in her thumb after crashing on a training run. "I guess you dont need thumbs for racing." Tristan Tafel, of Canmore, Alta., took the mens race after taking the lead at the first turn to secure his second national title. Simmerling finished in second place. "We were neck and neck out of the gate," Simmerling said of her duel with Thompson. "I was behind her the whole way. I tried to get her at the end but I tthink I just missed her by a hands length.dddddddddddd" India Sherret, of Cranbrook, B.C., was third and veteran Danielle Sundquist, of Calgary was fourth. The mens final was dominated by Tafel after his teammate and World Cup star Brady Leman of Calgary — who was fourth at the Sochi Games — went off course. Matt Brady and Kevin Macdonald were second and third, respectively. "Im pretty excited," said Tafel, who had a tough season on the World Cup circuit. "We all had a really good start and it was extremely tight going into the first turn. Thats where I took the lead and kept it all the way down. "The young guys were skiing right on my tail at the finish — good for them." Fridays podium capped a good week for Macdonald, who won the overall Nor-Am Cup title to earn himself a World Cup spot for next season. Macdonald topped the ski cross Nor-Am standings with 922 points, with American Robert Mahre (743) finishing second. Tania Prymak of the U.S. won the womens title with 871 points, with Canadas Abby McEwen finishing second (750). ' ' '