Caps mightier at Winter Classic

As the Winter Classic got wetter and wetter, the NHL nearly experienced its first rain delay. The Washington Capitals weathered the conditions with a performance that proved they can handle a big-game setting, even one in the great outdoors.

Eric Fehr upstaged stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin by scoring twice and the visiting Capitals waded through rain drops to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 in the NHL's first nighttime Winter Classic on Saturday night.

"It was raining pretty good out there," Fehr said. "But it was a perfect night."

Fehr gave Washington its first lead at 2-1 in the second period after Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury abandoned the net, then sealed it with a breakaway goal in the third. Mike Knuble also scored on a power play.

Washington goalie Semyon Varlamov, starting because of Michal Neuvirth's thigh injury, gave up Evgeni Malkin's goal in the second period but turned aside the other 32 shots.

"I can't imagine what football players (feel) playing like this," Ovechkin said. "It's unbelievable. It makes you want to do it all the time."

The game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. before the NHL pushed back the start to 8 p.m. because of the rain threat. Neither team seemed to mind, and the Capitals - led by an animated and motivated Ovechkin - clearly enjoyed the prime-time stage. Even if it was a slick one.

And the Capitals, perennial playoff underachievers, showed they can handle the main stage for a change. While this was far from a playoff game, it's certainly the kind of win that can ignite a team that won the Presidents' Trophy last year as the regular-season's best squad, only to lose in the first round of the playoffs vs. Montreal.

"It was close to the Stanley Cup finals," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We don't deny it meant more than just two points. It was a fabulous game."

After a scoreless first period in which the two teams adjusted to playing outdoors at night - many never had at any organized level - and the choppy ice, the Penguins took a 1-0 lead. Malkin took Kris Letang's banked pass off the boards to beat Varlamov inside the near post at 2:15.

Hurricanes 6, Devils 3: At Raleigh, N.C., Sergei Samsonov and Jeff Skinner scored two goals apiece, leading Carolina past New Jersey.

Sharks 1, Kings 0: Antti Niemi posted 29 saves, leading San Jose at Los Angeles.

Lightning 2, Rangers 1, OT: At Tampa, Fla., Nate Thompson's overtime goal lifted Tampa Bay past New York.

Sabres 7, Bruins 6, SO: Drew Stafford scored three times and Tyler Ennis netted the decisive shootout goal, leading host Buffalo past Boston.

Maple Leafs 5, Senators 1: Tyler Bozak scored two goals, leading Toronto at Ottawa.