The NHL mandates that teams can't play on three consecutive days. The Penguins are coming about as close as possible to violating that rule.

When they land in Pittsburgh sometime early this evening, they will have played three games in three cities in less than 72 hours. With a practice squeezed in during that time.

"It's quick. Everything happens fast," center Sidney Crosby said yesterday after a 3-2 win against Washington at Mellon Arena as the Penguins were scurrying to pack and fly to New York for a Presidents' Day matinee against the Islanders.

"You don't have time to dwell on the games that you just played. You just look to the next one, try to be sharp mentally when you get to the rink."

The weekend started with a 5-4 win at New Jersey Friday night and flight home. Then came a later-than-usual afternoon practice Saturday, followed by the midafternoon game yesterday and the early afternoon game today.

"I think it's just about trying to be ready to play," Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney said. "Obviously, your legs aren't going to be fully there, but you've got to be mentally prepared."

No matter the mix of mental or physical demands, the Penguins have handled the tightly packed schedule well. Their two wins so far this weekend make it six in a row, part of 14-0-2 string.

Penguins coach Michel Therrien expanded the stretch to include Wednesday's 5-4 shootout win against Chicago to make it four games in six days.

"The schedule is pretty demanding," he said. "We're going to try to get the most energy that we can have. We talk about conditioning, and I think it's right [where it needs to be]. This is where it's important to play six defensemen and have [backup goaltender Jocelyn] Thibault play [yesterday] and rotate four lines. This time of year, it starts to pay off."

Recchi still going strong

Mark Recchi tipped in a Sergei Gonchar shot for the first goal of the game and his 20th goal.

Recchi, 39, has reached 20 goals 15 times in the NHL, and he doesn't appear to be slowing. He skated 24 shifts totaling 17 minutes, 24 seconds, was even in plus-minus rating, dished out two hits, had a takeaway and didn't make a turnover.

"Obviously, knock on wood, I've been able to stay healthy," Recchi said. "It's kind of nice. I'm proud of my consistency. I've played with a lot of great players who have helped me.

"It's been fun. I hope I have another year or two under my belt."

Penalty shot stopped

Washington's Alexander Semin rang a shot off the crossbar behind Thibault at 14:04 of the third period, the first penalty shot awarded to a Penguins opponent this season.

The Penguins have stopped three penalty shots in a row, dating to a goal by Toronto's Chad Kilger March 31, 2006.

The Penguins once went eight years, four months between penalty-shot goals by opponents, from October 1983 until February 1990, a total of 12 stops.

Slap shots

Crosby missed the first 2:53 of the third period. He said he had a problem with a skate. ... Penguins center Dominic Moore was 7 of 8 on faceoffs. ... The Penguins scratched center Chris Thorburn and defenseman Alain Nasreddine. The Capitals scratched center Kris Beech and defensemen Ben Clymer and Steve Eminger. ... The Islanders will be without captain Alexei Yashin, who is expected to miss his 10th consecutive game with a knee injury. ... Ray Shero left the Capitals game early to travel to Naples, Fla., for league general manager meetings. ... The Penguins raised more than $332,000 for the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at their Penguins at Your Service dinner last Monday.