Alex Ovechkin scored twice in 28 seconds in the second period as the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Thursday, ending a four-game NHL losing streak.
Ovechkin’s two goals provided Washington with a 3-1 lead and gave him seven in seven games. The Sharks were the only NHL team he had never scored against.
Alexander Semin and Matt Bradley also scored for the Capitals, who had lost 11 straight to San Jose since February 1999. Benn Ferriero scored for the Sharks.
PHOTO: AFP
AVALANCHE 3, CANADIENS 2
In Montreal, Ryan O’Reilly scored his first NHL goal with 6 minutes, 13 seconds left, helping Colorado spoil the Canadiens’ 100th home opener.
The 18-year-old O’Reilly got his own rebound and put a shot past Carey Price to give Colorado their third straight victory. Craig Anderson made 29 saves, while Milan Hejduk and Kyle Cumiskey also scored for the Avalanche.
Roman Hamrlik and Tomas Plekanec scored for the Canadiens, who have lost four straight since opening the season with a pair of overtime wins.
RED WINGS 5, KINGS 2
In Detroit, Michigan, Nicklas Lidstrom became the first European defenseman and eighth overall to reach 1,000 points, assisting on two goals as Detroit downed Los Angeles.
The Swedish star has 229 goals and 771 assists in 1,336 career games.
Jonathan Ericsson and Henrik Zetterberg each had a goal and an assist, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby and Brian Rafalski also scored, while Chris Osgood made 24 saves.
The Kings’ goals came from Dustin Brown and Justin Williams.
BLACKHAWKS 3, PREDATORS 1
In Nashville, Tennessee, Dustin Byfuglien and Tomas Kopecky scored in a 28-second span early in the second period to lift Chicago past Nashville.
Cristobal Huet made 12 saves, allowing only Martin Erat’s goal, as the Blackhawks moved equal first in the Western Conference.
Duncan Keith also scored for Chicago and Brent Seabrook added two assists.
SENATORS 7, LIGHTNING 1
In Ottawa, Milan Michalek got his first NHL hat-trick, scoring twice short-handed and once on a power play as Ottawa routed Tampa Bay.
Jarkko Ruutu had a goal and two assists, while Alex Kovalev, Alexandre Picard and Nick Foligno also scored for the Senators.
Daniel Alfredsson had three assists.
Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone scored his sixth goal of the season.
COYOTES 3, BLUES 2, OT
In Glendale, Arizona, Ed Jovanovski scored after 3 minutes, 37 seconds of overtime to give Phoenix victory over St Louis.
Jovanovski knocked the flying puck past goalie Chris Mason with the shaft of his stick.
Phoenix’s Scottie Upshall sent the game to overtime, capping a two-on-one break with a wrist shot just inside the far post with 11 minutes, 33 seconds left in regulation.
Shane Doan also scored for the Coyotes, while the Blues’ goals came from David Backes and Paul Kariya.
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