Alex Ovechkin scored 1 minute, 55 seconds into overtime after Brooks Laich leveled the game with a minute left in regulation as the Washington Capitals snatched a 2-1 win from the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Ovechkin picked up a loose puck near the boards and made a mad dash down the ice, beating goalie Nathan Lawson with a backhand shot.
Lawson made 40 saves and kept the Caps at bay until Brooks Laich scored with 47.2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Laich redirected a pass from recently acquired Jason Arnott into the net.
Washington improved to 11-0-3 in their past 14 games against the Islanders, who have lost four straight overall.
CANUCKS 2, BLUE JACKETS 1, SO
In Vancouver, British Columbia, Raffi Torres scored in the eighth round of the shootout and Roberto Luongo stopped six shooters.
Mason Raymond scored for Vancouver in regulation, and Luongo made 30 saves in the first 65 minutes.
Despite alternating wins and losses for the past 11 games, Vancouver extended their lead atop the NHL to three points over Philadelphia and five ahead of Detroit in the Western Conference.
Scott Upshall scored in his Blue Jackets debut after being acquired in a trade on Monday, then watched nervously as his new teammates killed off the four-minute high-sticking penalty he took with less than five minutes left.
OILERS 2, PREDATORS 1, SO
In Edmonton, Alberta, Linus Omark and Jordan Eberle scored in a shootout for the home team’s win.
Jim Vandermeer scored in the first period to tie it less than a -minute after Blake Geoffrion made it 1-0 with his first career NHL goal.
Martin Gerber stopped 34 shots — 18 in the first period alone — for the Oilers, who have won five of eight.
Geoffrion is the first fourth-generation player in the NHL.
His great-grandfather Howie Morenz, grandfather Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion — both Hall of Famers — and father Dan Geoffrion all played in the league, too.
Gerber also stopped two shots in the shootout, and David Legwand missed right before Omark scored in the fourth round for the Oilers.
He is 3-0 this season with the Oilers while Nikolai Khabibulin heals from an eye injury.
FLAMES 6, BLUES 0
In St Louis, Missouri, Miikka Kiprusoff shut out the St Louis Blues for the second time in three days and Jarome Iginla had two goals and two assists.
Iginla’s line totaled 10 points, with Alex Tanguay getting a goal and two assists and Brendan Morrison adding three assists. The Flames finished 3-0 against the Blues, outscoring them 11-1, and have won eight of the last 10 in St Louis.
Making his 17th consecutive start, Kiprusoff stood out against a team that hadn’t been blanked in an NHL-high 110 games before losing 1-0 on Sunday night in Calgary, Alberta. Kiprusoff stopped 25 shots for his sixth shutout of this season and 40th of his career, and hasn’t allowed the Blues to score in 132 minutes and 11 seconds.
SHARKS 2, AVALANCHE 1, SO
In San Jose, California, Antti Niemi was perfect in the shootout just hours after getting a contract -extension, and Ryane Clowe scored in the first round of the tiebreaker.
Joe Thornton tied it with 2:58 remaining in regulation for the Sharks, who have won seven straight and 16 of 19. Niemi made 18 saves to cap a day that began with him signing a US$15.2 million, four-year extension.
In other NHL play, it was:
‧ Hurricanes 2, Panthers 1
‧ Canadiens 3, Thrashers 1
‧ Bruins 1, Senators 0
‧ Stars 3, Coyotes 2
‧ Sabres 3, Rangers 2
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely