NHL: Penguins confirm control of Eastern Conference with win over Washington

Sidney Crosby played a captain's role as he took his assist tally to 37 to keep Pittsburgh at the top of the conference.

Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby celebrates the winning goal against Washington.

The Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins clinched their 10th consecutive NHL win on Tuesday night with a 2-1 success against the Washington Capitals.

Sidney Crosby, the Penguins captain, had a hand in both of his team's goals to take his assists tally to a league-leading 37, Matt Niskanen's wrist shot with 8:02 to play in regulation proving decisive after Alex Ovechkin and Paul Martin had traded goals in the second period.

Elsewhere, the New Jersey Devils stumbled to their third straight loss with a 3-2 reverse against the New York Rangers.

Rick Nash put the rejuvenated Rangers ahead for the third time in the game 7:25 into the second period and this time they held on, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist making 29 saves to keep the Devils at bay.

Goals from Tomas Fleischmann, Marcel Goc and Shawn Matthias in just over six minutes in the third period helped the last-placed Florida Panthers snap a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Ottawa Senators rallied for a third win in a row, Sergei Gonchar grabbing the go-ahead goal with 1:00 left on the clock in a 5-3 triumph over the New York Islanders.

The Winnipeg Jets moved top of the South-east Division thanks to a come-from-behind 3-1 win against Boston, Blake Wheeler (two) and Evander Kane netting in the third period after Brad Marchand had put the Bruins ahead in the second.

Steve Ott bagged a brace - including an overtime winner - to hand the Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, while Columbus Blue Jackets held on for a 4-3 triumph against Nashville despite a late two-goal rally from the Predators.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings edged the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 and the Vancouver Canucks saw off the St Louis Blues by the same score line.

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