In what was potentially the final regular season game between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, the former and his Capitals team came out on top 3-0 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Trevor Van Riemsdyk scored midway through the second to put the hosts in front. Although they were outshot in the match 49-43, Washington were able to keep the Penguins out.
The third period saw Connor McMichael net twice, the second on an empty net, to help his team see off the Pens. The Caps' third straight win puts them a point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. As for Pittsburgh, they were passed by the Boston Bruins, who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 later in the day.
For the Capitals to make the playoffs, they will have to beat the Blue Jackets in a direct duel, and then hope for the Flyers to collect no more than one point from their final two games.
Elsewhere, the Montreal Canadiens ended the New Jersey Islanders' playoff hopes with a 4-1 victory on the road. The second period did the damage for the home team, who conceded thrice in 55 seconds. Nick Suzuki, Ivan Demidov, and Alex Newhook were the scorers in what proved to be a vital middle frame.
Casey Cizikas got a goal back to give the Islanders a chance at a comeback, but hopes were extinguished when Zachary Bolduc scored Montreal's fourth to ice the game.
The loss was New York's fifth in their last sixth, with their poor form costing them a place in the postseason The Habs, meanwhile, have now won three of their last four as they prepare for the playoffs in the East.
At the Prudential Center, Nico Hischier netted two goals and an assist, including the game winner, as the New Jersey Devils edged the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in overtime. It went the distance in Anaheim, as the Ducks fell 4-3 to the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout.
The Calgary Flames completed the day with a 4-1 defeat of the Utah Mammoth, scoring twice in both the first and third periods to prevail.
Follow the NHL action on Flashscore as the regular seasons nears its end.