Pittsburgh Penguins

Opponent: Pittsburgh PenguinsSite: USAir Arena, LandoverTime: 1:30 p.m.Radio: WWLG (1360 AM), WTEM (570 AM)Outlook: The Penguins are averaging nearly five goals and giving up three. Their power-play figures are awesome, outscoring the opposition, 59-32, while converting 59 of 172 chances. The Penguins had a six-game winning streak broken by Montreal last week, then defeated Buffalo (6-3), Hartford (9-4) and Florida (6-5). G Tom Barrasso has been activated off the injured list and carries a 13-2-2 record.

PITTSBURGH -- Washington Capitals goalie Jim Carey made 23 saves last night, but it wouldn't have mattered if he had made 100. The Capitals couldn't score.They were 0-for-8 on the power play.They were 0-for-32 on the shot clock.And the Pittsburgh Penguins went 2-for-2 on the weekend, shutting out the Capitals, 3-0, after beating them in overtime at USAir Arena the night before.Ken Wregget's second shutout of the season was the first against the Capitals since a 2-0 loss to New Jersey on Feb. 20."

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals managed to stuff every emotion possible into their encounter with the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.But the one that was most lasting was dejection after the Penguins pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory when goalie Jim Carey tried to do too much.With 2:12 to go in the overtime, Jaromir Jagr was being covered by Mark Tinordi as he circled behind the Caps' net. Instead of holding his position in front of the net and following the play to the far post, Carey skated around the near post and tried to poke the puck from Jagr's stick.

BaseballFlorida Marlins -- Purchased the contract of P Tony Castro from Duluth-Superior of the independent Northern League.Philadelphia Phillies -- Activated P Tommy Greene from 15-day DL.CollegeUMBC -- Rescinded its letter of resignation from the Big South Conference and announced that it will remain a member indefinitely.FootballChicago Bears -- Signed QB Steve Stenstrom, who was waived by Kansas City.Green Bay Packers -- Signed K Dirk Borgognone. Waived RB Russell White.Jacksonville Jaguars -- Signed QB Brad Goebel.

BaseballNational League -- Suspended P Xavier Hernandez (eight games), OF Ron Gant (four games), and manager Davey Johnson (two games) of the Cincinnati Reds and P Doug Drabek (five games), C Pat Borders (five games) and manager Terry Collins (two games) of the Houston Astros after the incidents involving Cincinnati and Houston in a Sept. 5 game. All six also were fined undisclosed amounts.Detroit Tigers -- Traded IF-OF Juan Samuel to the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named. Claimed IF Steve Rodriguez on waivers from the Boston Red Sox.Houston Astros -- Recalled P Darryl Kile and P Pedro Martinez from Triple-A Tucson.

BaseballOrioles -- Activated P Ben McDonald from the 15-day DL. Optioned P Joe Borowski to Triple-A Rochester.Cleveland Indians -- Released P Bud Black. Called up P Albie Lopez from Triple-A Buffalo.Kansas City Royals -- Waived 2B Jose Lind for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.Milwaukee Brewers -- Placed C Joe Oliver on the 15-day DL.St. Louis Cardinals -- Placed P Mike Morgan on the 15-day DL. Activated P Donovan Osborne from the disabled list.Seattle Mariners -- Signed P Norm Charlton for the rest of the season.

LANDOVER -- For the Washington Capitals, it was a nightmare on the USAir Arena ice.Goalie Ken Wregget made 30 saves and came within 1:27 of his first shutout since 1989 last night and the Pittsburgh Penguins, one game from elimination, crushed the Caps, 7-1, in Game 6 of the NHL's Eastern Conference quarterfinals.This best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series is tied 3-3 and returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow night for a Game 7 showdown.The demoralizing defeat would have been bad enough for Washington, which had held a 3-1 series lead.

Everything appeared normal at the Washington Capitals' team meeting yesterday at Piney Orchard Ice Rink.Some players relaxed and sprawled out in the training room eating pizza. Others spent the time watching game tapes and checking their sticks.Everything appeared normal -- except for the homework.After the meeting, Caps coach Jim Schoenfeld asked each player to answer some questions on a sheet of paper, which detailed their motivation and goals after having their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series lead against Pittsburgh cut to 3-2 on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH -- They've been here before, at this 3-1 junction in a Stanley Cup playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. And the Washington Capitals have come out of it with mixed results. But as they prepared for today's showdown here at the Civic Arena, past failures seemed not to apply."Have the Caps lost a 3-1 series?" said Washington rookie goalie Jim Carey. "I'm new to this. You can be up 3-0 and lose. I'm sure it's happened somewhere in the NHL before. But I'd rather be in our shoes than theirs.