WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin's first goal as captain
capped another big-scoring night for the Washington Capitals.
Nicklas Backstrom scored twice in the
third period, and Ovechkin added a goal in the final two minutes as the
Capitals beat the Ottawa Senators 5-2 on Thursday night.
Ovechkin nearly made it three games
in a row without a goal, which would have matched his longest drought
of the season, but the Capitals are 2-0 with the "C" on the jersey of
the two-time NHL MVP, and they remain comfortably atop the Southeast
Division.
Ovechkin also got an assist on
Backstrom's early third-period goal that restored Washington's two-goal
lead. Backstrom added a nifty wraparound later in the game for his 17th
goal of the season. Ovechkin has 27 goals.
Boyd Gordon and Mike Knuble had goals
for the Capitals in the first period. Chris Phillips scored for the
Senators in the second, and Jonathan Cheechoo added one late in the
third for Ottawa.
Jose Theodore made 26 saves to get
his first win since Dec. 15. The veteran, pushed this season for
playing time by youngsters Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov, had
played in only one of seven previous games. Neuvirth has handled most
of the starts recently while Varlamov recovers from groin and knee
injuries.
The Capitals improved to 14-3-3 at
home, while the Senators remain ineffective on the road. Ottawa has
lost 12 of 18 away games this season, including 11 of their last 14.
Gordon started the scoring by putting
in a rebound while falling forward onto the ice for his first goal
since Friday. Knuble's wrister made it 2-0, and the Capitals squandered
several chances to pad the lead in the second period. Ovechkin had a
near breakaway go awry when he lost his footing, and his helmet came
off during a mad scramble that left a pile of bodies in the crease
during a power play.
Phillips got credit for a goal that
deflected off Washington defenseman Mike Green's skate to pull Ottawa
within one, but Backstrom made it 3-1 just 26 seconds into the third
period with a shot from near the goal line that banked in off spinning
goalie Pascal Leclaire.
Backstrom used his speed to beat Leclaire on a wraparound with 9:15 left.
Notes
Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau
said it might be a week before Varlamov can play again. Varlamov was on
his way back from a groin injury when he sprained a ligament in his
right knee during a rehab start Sunday for the AHL affiliate Hershey.
… Washington D Brian Pothier returned after missing a month with a
cracked rib.