Ovechkin scores 40th goal as Capitals rip Maple Leafs
Alex Ovechkin scored his league-leading 40th goal and the Washington Capitals
pulled away from the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 in an outdoor game at
Navy-Marines Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., Saturday night.
Ovechkin is just two goals shy from reaching 600 for his career.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson each had a goal and two
assists for Washington, which has won three of its last four games. Jakub
Vrana also ended a 25-game scoreless drought for the Capitals.
Zach Hyman and Nazem Kadri had goals for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped
three straight on the current four-game road trip.
The teams had to deal with difficult conditions as a wind storm swept through
the area. Neither team was able to go through a morning skate because of the
weather. There was also nearly a 15-minute delay midway through the third
period because the lights went out.
The Capitals were more poised from the opening faceoff and remain in first
place in the Metropolitan Division with the Flyers, Penguins and Devils close
on their heels.
Toronto pulled to within 3-2 when Kadri scored with 12:38 left in the second
period. However, the Capitals responded with goals by Carlson and Vrana two
minutes apart.
Toronto's Frederik Andersen, who entered the game 3-0-1 with a 2.00 goal
against average against the Capitals, was then replaced by Curtis McElhinney,
who finished with nine saves.
From there, the Maple Leafs dominated the third period but could not overcome
the deficit.
Braden Holtby got the start in goal for Washington and finished with 27 saves.
Holtby snapped a six-game winless streak and bounced back from a tough month
of February, when he had a 4.62 goals against average.
Washington took a 1-0 lead just 3:50 into the opening period on a goal by
Kuznetsov. The Maple Leafs answered just two minutes later when Hyman tied the
game off a pass from Roman Polak. However, the Capitals retook the lead on
Ovechkin's goal with 13:41 remaining.
Backstrom provided a 3-1 margin with a power-play goal with 3:40 left.
Each team had won their previous two regular-season outdoor games. The
Capitals were able to extend their streak with a dominant performance.
--Field Level Media
