Nearly lost in the news that Washington winger Alex Ovechkin scored his 50th goal of the season Thursday night in a 5-2 win at Tampa Bay was reaction to his choreographed celebration.

"I'm sure he's trying to prove a point," said Penguins center Sidney Crosby, who has said he does not care for Ovechkin's flamboyant style.

"He's been probably criticized a bit about it and wants to show that that's something that is important to him, to show that passion, and that's fine."

After the goal, a wrist shot from the right dot, Ovechkin put his stick on the ice and pretended it was too hot for him to get his gloved hands close to it. It was reminiscent of -- but not as complicated as -- the skit he and Penguins center Evgeni Malkin performed during the breakaway contest at the January All-Star weekend skills competition.

Celebrations that stray from fist pumps and hugs from teammates are not the norm in the NHL but happen from time to time.

When Teemu Selanne, then with Winnipeg, broke Mike Bossy's rookie record for goals in 1993, he drew attention for a duck hunting routine in which he tossed a glove in the air and pretended to pump and shoot his stick as if it were a shotgun.

Tampa Bay's Ryan Malone, a former Penguins winger, offered something of a threat in the wake of Ovechkin's display.

"I was in the [penalty] box at the time, but you remember something like that and make sure he pays the right way," Malone told the Tampa Tribune. "He's going to do what he's going to do, and it's up to us to react the way we should."

The Penguins honored former organist Vince Lascheid in a pregame tribute.

There was a moment of silence for Lascheid, who died yesterday morning at age 85, and several photos of him appeared on the video board. Several of Lascheid's more popular tunes were played throughout the game.

He played at Penguins games from 1970-2003 and is in the team's Hall of Fame. (Obituary: Vincent C. Lascheid Jr. / Organist set tone for Bucs, Pens)

The Penguins' game last night against Los Angeles was the 16th for Dan Bylsma since he was named interim coach, but the first with such personal meaning.

"When they walked into the rink, I saw a lot of old friends," Bylsma said in the morning of the Kings, for whom he played from 1995-96 to 1999-2000. "This is the team I started my pro career with, so it's going to be special seeing the jersey and seeing these faces and trying to go after two points."

Alaska Fairbanks goaltender Chad Johnson, who was selected by the Penguins in the fifth round of the 2006 NHL draft, was named Central Collegiate Hockey Association player of the year. He is an All-American and finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Johnson, a senior, is 12-10-4 with a 1.70 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. ... Winger Craig Adams returned to the Penguins lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous three games. Winger Eric Godard was scratched. ... Los Angeles scratched forwards Oscar Moeller, John Zeiler, Brad Richardson and Kevin Westgarth and defenseman Denis Gauthier.