Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, last season's top rookies, were supposed to be the stars of Monday's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals. But Evgeni Malkin stole their thunder.

This season's hot rookie scored a goal and notched an assist in regulation time.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby works the puck past Washington Capitals' Boyd Gordon in Washington Monday night.
(Nick Wass/Associated Press)

He then scored the decisive goal in the shootout, holding the puck until he was almost at the goal line then drawing goalie Olaf Kolzig out of the crease before sending the puck high into the far side of the net.

That goal gave the Penguins a 5-4 come-from-behind victory.

Erik Christensen also scored in the shootout for Pittsburgh.

Chris Clark had two goals and two assists for the Capitals, who led 4-0 in the second period but couldn't hold on for the win.

The Penguins rallied with goals in the second period from Maxime Talbot, Christensen and Crosby, who scored for the fourth straight game.

Malkin tied the game just over three minutes into the third.

Ovechkin, who had two assists in the game, scored the Capitals' only goal in the shootout.

Crosby leads the Penguins with 14 goals and 41 points. He assisted on Malkin's goal, but came up short in the shootout.

Spectacular rookie seasons

Monday’s game was the first meeting between Ovechkin and Crosby this season. Last season they finished first and second respectively in voting for the rookie-of-the-year award.

Last season, Ovechkin became only the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals and tally 100 points in a rookie campaign. Teemu Selanne, in 1992-93, was the other player to achieve that remarkable feat.

Crosby, who finished runner-up in voting for the Calder Trophy, given to the league's top rookie, also had an outstanding campaign.

The native of Cole Harbour, N.S., scored 39 goals and 102 points. At 18, he became the youngest player with 100 points in his first season.

"There's no question there's more emotion, but it's natural for it to be like that," Crosby said of facing Ovechkin. "I don't think guys are adding anything to it than what it is. Everyone knows when it's a bigger stage guys want to rise to the occasion."

Malkin was named the league's top rookie in October and November. He was just the second player since Ron Hextall, in 1986, to earn consecutive rookie-of-the-month honours. The award was first given out in 1983.

Earlier this season, Malkin became the first player in 89 years to score a goal in his first six NHL games.

In June, Ovechkin predicted Malkin would succeed him as the NHL's rookie of the year.

With files from the Associated Press