WASHINGTON -- Capitals star Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick as the Penguins lost to the Washington, 4-3, in Game 2 of their second-round playoff matchup tonight at Verizon Center, falling behind in the series, two games to none.

The Capitals won Game 1, 3-2.

In a first period full of scoring chances at both ends, Penguins center Sidney Crosby -- who also had a hat trick -- got the only goal. He got two bats at the puck after defenseman Sergei Gonchar took a slap shot from the center point and scored at 6:38 for a power-play goal.

Washington tied it, 1-1, at 2:18 of the second period when Ovechkin one-timed pass from Alexander Semin.

Crosby gave the Penguins back the lead, 2-1, at 11:57 of the second period when he stationed himself in front of net, shrugged off Capitals defenseman Mike Green and swatted in a rebound of a shot by winger Bill Guerin.

Again, the Capitals tied it. Center David Steckel, parked to the right of the Penguins' net, converted a pass from rookie defenseman Tyler Sloan at 15:49 of the second period to make it 2-2.

Washington got its first lead at 12:53 of the third period. With Penguins center Evegni Malkin in the penalty box for tripping Steckel, center Nicklas Backstrom beat Penguins center Jordan Staal on a faceoff, getting the puck to defenseman Mike Green at the right point. Green sent it across to Ovechkin, who blasted it past Fleury for a power-play goal to make it 3-2.

Ovechkin struck again at 15:22 of the third period when he drove in one-on-one against Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar, shot around him and beat Fleury high to the glove side to make it 4-2.

Crosby batted a puck out of the air past Washington goaltender Simeon Varlamov with 30.4 seconds left in regulation to make it 4-3.

Game 3 is Wednesday night at Mellon Arena.