WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Logan Thompson stopped 24 shots, and the Washington Capitals kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 Sunday in perhaps the final home of Alex Ovechkin\u2019s brilliant career.<\/p>\n
To reach the postseason, the Capitals must defeat Columbus in the season finale Tuesday night and hope Philadelphia fails to win either of its last two games. <\/p>\n
The 40-year-old Ovechkin intends to wait until the offseason to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd season. The all-time NHL leader in goals with 929, Ovechkin has played in every game this season and leads the Capitals in goals (32) and points (63).<\/p>\n
The spirited, sellout crowd saluted Ovechkin during the game with chants of \u201cOne more year!\u201d and \u201cOvi! Ovi! Ovi!\u201d<\/p>\n
Ovechkin helped seal the victory by picking up an assist on an empty-net goal by Connor McMichael, who scored earlier in the third period.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh last week clinched a postseason berth and home-ice advantage in the opening round. But the rivalry between these teams runs deep, and the Penguins tried hard to throw a wet blanket on the Capitals\u2019 playoff hopes and Ovechkin\u2019s big day.<\/p>\n
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was back on the ice after he and several teammates received a day off Saturday when Washington won in Pittsburgh 6-3. This was the 100th \u2014 and perhaps final \u2014 matchup between Ovechkin and Crosby, two of the game\u2019s biggest names. <\/p>\n
To mark the occasion, the two stars lined up at center ice for the opening faceoff<\/a>. It was only the 175th career faceoff for Ovechkin, counting playoffs, compared to No. 32,131 for Crosby.<\/p>\n The game was scoreless until Trevor van Riemsdyk jammed the puck<\/a> under Pittsburgh goalie Stuart Skinner\u2019s right leg at 12:22 of the second period.<\/p>\n That was enough offense for Thompson, who notched his fourth shutout of the season.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Penguins: Close the regular season at St. Louis on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n Capitals: At Columbus on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n