WASHINGTON -- Determined to get out of their recent funk and motivated to measure up to the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals took out their frustrations in a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.The score was indicative of just how lopsided the game was as the Capitals got two goals and three assists from Nicklas Backstrom and two goals and two assists from T.J. Oshie. They scored short-handed, at even strength and on the power play and skated the Penguins out of the building in the rivals second meeting of the season.We played really quick tonight, we got on their D-men, said Backstrom, who tied his career high with five points. We were hungry out there and we won battles and obviously we scored on our chances, too. Thats huge.Washington had lost two in a row and three of four and didnt look at all like a team that lost in overtime Tuesday night at Columbus. Alex Ovechkin ended his four-game point drought with his eighth goal of the season, and Dmitry Orlov and Justin Williams also scored.Ovechkin got a scare when he was taken down by Kris Letang in the second period, leaving the ice briefly before returning a few minutes later. He said his arm went numb but that he was healthy enough to come back and contribute to the blowout.Its nice to see when we play like that, we stick together and we dont give them anything or much, Ovechkin said. Its a good sign.Its a bad sign for the Penguins to put up that kind of effort despite being rested. Pittsburgh allowed a short-handed goal to Oshie early and took nine minor penalties as things fell apart.These games are humbling, Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. We were embarrassed out there tonight, all of us.Cup-winning goaltender Matt Murray left the game late in the first period after teammate Evgeni Malkin accidentally hit him in the head when he was trying to shove Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner. Murray said he went through the NHLs concussion protocol and was medically cleared to return, but Sullivan opted to stick with Marc-Andre Fleury out of an abundance of caution.After Murray allowed two goals on 14 shots, Fleury gave up five goals on 25 shots. Phil Kessel scored the Penguins only goal in garbage time as they lamented a wasted game.Its a couple my faults, a couple penalties, Malkin said. Were not ready today. Washington lost last two games. Theyre hungry. They deserved this win.The Capitals didnt let up and poured on the points as the Penguins penalties and mistakes added up. Twelve different players had at least one point, and the beleaguered power play got some much-needed practice and went 2 for 7, scoring at 4-on-3 and 5-on-3.No matter the source of the offensive explosion, this was the kind of game Washington would like to play on a regular basis.We played fast, said goaltender Braden Holtby, who stopped 25 of 27 shots. We didnt stop skating all night. Just watching the last couple games, it seemed like we were just missing a couple strides here and there to keep that team speed up. Tonight guys were committed. I think it was a game where we realized we need to be better and play more to our identity.Game notes F Tom Sestito played for the first time since Nov. 3, replacing Tom Kuhnhackl in the Penguins lineup. Sestito played just 4:49 and was given a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the second period.UP NEXTPenguins: Continue their three-game road trip at the New York Islanders on Friday night.Capitals: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night as they continue a five-game homestand. Koen Casteels Jersey . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Eden Hazard Jersey . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Thomas-Meunier-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Leander Dendoncker Belgium Jersey . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Eden Hazard Belgium Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. NEW ORLEANS -- The Latest on the sentencing in Louisiana of former NFL star Darren Sharper in a drug and rape case (all times local):10:20 a.m.A Louisiana judge has formally imposed a 20-year prison sentence on former NFL star Darren Sharper, who last week was sentenced by a federal judge to 18 years and four months in a drug and rape case with victims in four states.Defense attorney Billy Gibbens said that the two sentences are essentially the same, when credit for time served and other factors are considered.Thursdays second sentencing hearing was again punctuated by tearful testimony from victims. One who said she forgave Sharper, despite suffering through depression because of his assault.Sharper again apologized to his victims and their families and continued to ask for forgiveness, at one point telling the judge: I am not a monster. The sentence followed a plea deal that saw him enter guilty or no-conttest pleas in multiple jurisdictions.dddddddddddd---9 a.m.A week after he was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison in federal court, disgraced ex-football star Darren Sharper is set for formal sentencing in state court to charges that he drugged and raped multiple women.Thursdays sentencing for the former NFL player is set for Judge Karen Hermans courtroom in New Orleans. Hes pleaded guilty or no-contest in state and federal courts in Louisiana, and in state courts in Arizona, Nevada and California. A judge has said the case may involve as many as 16 victims.The pleas were part of a multi-jurisdiction deal that once was expected to net him only nine years in prison. He elected to stick to the deal even after U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo rejected the light sentence. ' ' '