WASHINGTON - Matt Yeats finally is getting the chance to play regularly, and the goaltender has impressed the Washington Capitals.

"We're happy with him," Washington coach Glen Hanlon said. "We have a goaltender there that we feel no one has really given a chance. Our situation right now allows us to play him. If he wasn't capable to play, we wouldn't have done it."

Yeats earned his first NHL victory, helped by Trent Whitfield's two goals and an assist, as the Capitals avoided falling into the league's cellar with a 4-2 win Tuesday night over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 24-year-old Yeats was called up to Washington March 19, and is 1-2-0 with four strong efforts. He's still having a hard time believing he's made it to the NHL.

"Maybe it will after the season is over, but it hasn't sunk in yet," Yeats said. "Last night, I watched the Detroit game and I was just thinking, 'I am playing in the same league.' It doesn't seem real."

Washington's Jeff Halpern had a goal and two assists - tying a career high with three points - and Alexander Semin also scored for the Capitals. Washington snapped a three-game losing streak with the win that gave them 57 points.

Pittsburgh, which got goals from Dick Tarnstrom and Ric Jackman, has 54 points.

Halpern gave Washington a 1-0 lead 3:55 in by grabbing a loose puck behind the net and tucking it into left side as goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin appeared to momentarily lose track of it.

Semin made it 2-0 with 48 seconds left in the period. But Pittsburgh bounced back 35 seconds later when Tarnstrom scored from in front after a slick drop pass from Aleksey Morozov.

The Capitals retook a two-goal edge when Whitfield redirected a slap shot by Brendan Witt past Aubin 25 seconds into the second period. Whitfield scored his second goal at 4:27 on another assist from Halpern.

Jackman scored Pittsburgh's other goal late in the period.

The Penguins pressured Yeats in the third period, even getting a rare five-minute power play when Washington's Darcy Verot was given a major for elbowing. But Pittsburgh couldn't score with the extra man.

"(Washington) played really well," Pittsburgh coach Eddie Olczyk said. "We came into the season with our plan, and they decided halfway through the season to go with their young players. It's no different."