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WASHINGTON -- Sidney Crosby was everywhere Monday night, from start to finish. All of 46 seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 victory over Alex Ovechkins struggling Washington Capitals, Crosby assisted on Chris Kunitzs goal. Then, after Washington made it 1-all, Crosby drew a penalty. And 11 seconds later, on Pittsburghs third shot of the evening, Crosby put the puck in the net himself. Later, with the score again tied, Crosby had the secondary assist on Kunitzs second goal. And finally, when Ovechkin and the Capitals had a power play for most of the last two minutes, Crosby was on the ice, helping kill off the chance. "It was a very good game," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said about Crosby. "All aspects." Now theres an understatement. "We saw a 5-on-5 play. We saw the speed (Crosbys line can) generate, and got the scoring chances," Bylsma added. "Used him in defensive situations, and (he) did a great job there on the penalty kill in the third." Crosby finished with his 30th goal and two assists to raise his NHL-leading point total to 87, matching his uniform number. The Penguins beat Washington for the seventh consecutive time and overtook idle Boston for the Eastern Conferences best record. The Capitals, who began the day outside of the playoff picture in 10th place in the East, have lost four of their past five games to fall into what Ovechkin called a "desperate position." The teams play each other again Tuesday at Pittsburgh. Mondays game featured the largely uneventful NHL debut of Russian forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, a player Capitals general manager George McPhee likened to the Loch Ness Monster: "Weve heard of you, but we havent seen you." The winger was a first-round draft pick in 2010, but has been playing in Russia. He signed a contract Saturday and got on the ice for the first time about two minutes into Mondays game, part of Washingtons fourth line with Tom Wilson and Jay Beagle. Wearing No. 92, Kuznetsov also got a bit of a run alongside Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, and even some power-play action. He took 12 shifts for 10 minutes, 22 seconds, took two shots and blocked one. "We have to be patient and be realistic about expectations, because its a foreign league for him. Its a foreign system. Hes never played this way," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "Hes never played in front of this many people, really. So for me, I want to ease him in." Penguins rookie goalie Jeff Zatkoff made 31 saves. Ovechkin, the three-time MVP who leads the NHL with 44 goals, was held without a point and was limited to four shots. Pittsburgh went ahead 1-0 on its first shot, when Crosby slid the puck across the ice to left wing Kunitz. Easily gliding past defenceman Mike Green, Kunitz flipped his shot past Jaroslav Halak, still wearing an all-white goalies mask in his second start for Washington after arriving last week in a trade. Green, Oates said, "got caught a little flat-footed on the play, probably a little surprised at the end of the shift that Kunitz had that much juice." The Capitals evened things less than 2 1/2 minutes later on Eric Fehrs 11th goal. That tie did not last long: 38 seconds afterward, Backstrom was sent to the penalty box for slashing Crosby -- who soon made it 2-1 off Evgeni Malkins assist. "I dont take too many of those. Its nice to see one go in," Crosby said. "Im usually a little closer when they go in." The Capitals got to 2-all on Backstroms power-play score at the 8:57 mark of the second period. This tie was a short one, too, lasting a little more than 3 1/2 minutes. And, not surprisingly, Crosby was involved in Pittsburghs goal again. He dropped a no-look pass back to Lee Stempniak, whose shot was kicked away by Halak, but Kunitz was there to poke in the rebound for his 31st goal. Oates summed it up this way: "Their big dogs scored." Notes: Pittsburgh went 3-2 on its season-high five-game road trip. ... Kuznetsovs appearance marked Washingtons fourth game in a row in which a player made his debut with the club. Michael Taylor Jersey . He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5th. The 34-year-old Laval, Que. native has played six seasons with the Penguins. Joaquin Benoit Jersey . -- D. J. Williams finally has his packing strategy down. http://www.cheapnationalsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-shawn-kelley-jersey . -- The Anaheim Ducks have signed left wing Dany Heatley to a one-year deal, returning the 33-year-old unrestricted free agent to the Pacific Division. Matt Adams Jersey . If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. Brian Goodwin Jersey . Brassard and Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris were battling for position in the crease when a nudge from Morris sent Brassard on top of Smith late in the third period.ACCRA, Ghana - The Ghana Football Association says it is now able to pay back the money it borrowed from the government to avoid a player strike over unpaid bonuses at the World Cup.The GFA says officials will meet with the countrys sports minister and pay back the loan on Thursday after the GFA received its World Cup appearance money from FIFA.Ghanas government flew arounnd $3 million in cash to Brazil to avert a player walkout at the World Cup in June.dddddddddddd GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi later said cash was also used to prevent player revolts at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.Ghanas government carried out an investigation into the saga at this years World Cup. Ghana, a 2010 quarterfinalist, didnt win a game in Brazil. ' ' '