The Washington Capitals have a calm confidence in the game’s most tense moments.
T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov on Wednesday scored in a shoot-out to lift Washington over the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1.
Brendan Leipsic had a goal in the first period and Braden Holtby made 30 saves for the Capitals, who extended their point streak to 13 games (11-0-2) and increased their NHL-best total to 32 points.
Photo: Eric Hartline-USA Today
“The talk on our bench is: ‘Who’s going to get the next goal? Let’s see who’s going to do it,’” Washington coach Todd Reirden said. “No one slams doors. No one breaks sticks. We believe in our system.”
Claude Giroux scored for the Flyers (10-5-3), who had won four straight. Philadelphia have earned at least one point in seven consecutive games (5-0-2).
Carter Hart made 35 saves in regulation and overtime, including several late highlight-reel stops, but the 21-year-old netminder could not stop either Washington attempt in the shoot-out.
After Jakub Voracek missed high with a backhand, Oshie beat Hart through the legs.
Giroux scored over Holtby’s left shoulder to tie it, but Kuznetsov followed with a forehand high into the net and the Capitals celebrated when Sean Couturier could not convert in the third round for the Flyers.
“We’re finding ways to gather points,” Reirden said. “It felt like we deserved the two points.”
Giroux tied the game with 13 minutes, 22 seconds left in the third period on a power play after a nifty pass from Voracek in front of the net.
The Capitals had several chances to take the lead late, but Hart denied one quality chance after another.
“You need some saves and we got some saves,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. “He’s doing a good job for us and helping give us a chance to be in games and win games, and that’s what you want from your goaltender.”
The Flyers goalie twice stopped John Carlson from close range with just less than four minutes left in the third, denying both the initial shot and the rebound try.
Tom Wilson had a great chance for Washington 43 seconds later, but Hart turned aside his backhand follow attempt from in front.
Wilson had another high-quality chance with 35 seconds left in the third, but could not beat Hart.
Couturier had the best chance in the five-minute overtime, but his slap shot from the slot clanked off the right post. Alex Ovechkin provided the best opportunity for Washington, but could not convert on a near-breakaway four minutes into the extra session.
Leipsic opened the scoring 6 minutes, 13 seconds in with his second goal of the season on a rebound after Hart saved Carlson’s initial shot from the point. Carlson upped his point total to 30 with his 22nd assist.
In other results it was:
‧ Islanders 5, Maple Leafs 4
‧ Senators 4, Devils 2
‧ Stars 3, Flames 1
‧ Blackhawks 5, Golden Knights 3
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
MLB on Friday announced a formal investigation into the scandal swirling around Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter amid charges that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was the victim of “massive theft.” The Dodgers on Wednesday fired Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s long-time interpreter and close friend, after Ohtani’s representatives alleged that the Japanese two-way star had been the victim of theft, which was reported to involve millions of dollars and link Mizuhara to a suspected illegal bookmaker in California. “Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB