Capitals 4, Penguins 0: Captain Alex Ovechkin registered his eighth two-goal performance of the season to take over the NHL lead and Braden Holtby posted his career-high fifth shutout as host Washington halted its four-game slide (0-3-1).

Defenseman Mike Green recorded a goal and an assist while Eric Fehr also scored for the Capitals, who extended their home point streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Nicklas Backstrom notched a pair of assists and Holtby made 27 saves en route to his 16th career blanking and second versus Pittsburgh this campaign.

Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 32 shots for the Penguins, who have been outscored 7-0 in two meetings with the Capitals in 2014-15. Captain Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup after missing one game with a lower-body injury and registered three shots while losing 17-of-24 faceoffs.

Washington grabbed the lead less than five minutes into the game as Ovechkin deflected defenseman Karl Alzner's shot from the left point past Fleury at 4:50 of the opening period. The All-Star capped his fourth two-point effort in five games with 2:41 left in the second, burying his patented one-timer from the left faceoff circle during a power play for his 29th of the season and a 2-0 lead.

Fehr expanded the advantage 11 minutes into the third, grabbing a loose puck at the left side of the crease and lifting it under the crossbar. Green effectively put away the game 82 seconds later, when he beat Fleury from the left circle during a 2-on-1 rush.

GAME NOTEBOOK: While Crosby was back in the lineup, Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin remained out with a lower-body injury. ... C Maxim Lapierre made his debut with the Penguins after being acquired from St. Louis on Tuesday and recorded two shots in 14:15 of ice time. ... Ovechkin, who has been kept off the scoresheet only three times in his last 13 games, moved ahead of fellow All-Stars Rick Nash of the New York Rangers and Dallas' Tyler Seguin for the league lead in goals.