WASHINGTON, D.C. — Goaltender Braden Holtby finally allowed a goal to the Boston Bruins, but Washington capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play with a goal from defenseman John Carlson to propel the Capitals to a 4-1 victory on Thursday, extending their impressive run against Atlantic Division squads.
Washington was 0-for-its-last-12 with the extra man, but when given the extra room on the ice provided by a pair of penalties to Bruins right winger Jimmy Hayes and center Brad Marchand in the second period, the Capitals found the net quickly. Center Nicklas Backstrom feathering a perfect pass to the stick of Carlson, who delivered the one-timer into a wide-open net, easily beating Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask, who made 27 saves in the game.
Holtby blanked the Bruins in three games last season, but a first-period tally by Hayes with 7:13 remaining ended the impressive run. Still, Holtby finished with 28 saves to improve to 8-2-0 in his career against Boston.
Center Brooks Laich ended a 16-game streak without a goal and left-winger Alex Ovechkin found the back of the net as well for Washington, which has now earned a point in 19 straight contests against Atlantic opponents, compiling a 16-0-3 mark during that stretch. Defenseman Karl Alzner added an empty-net goal with 1:48 remaining.
Boston became the last NHL team to lose on the road, dropping to 5-1-0 on the season away from home.
The Capitals took the lead for good in the second period as defenseman Dmitry Orlov threw in a shot from the blue line, right where Laich was screening Rask. The puck redirected off Laich’s foot for his first point of the year and first goal since March of last season.
Hayes put Boston on the board first, as the Bruins were able to take advantage of a power-play opportunity to end Holtby’s shutout streak. Winger Brett Conley fired a shot that deflected off Washington defenseman Brooks Orpik’s stick and then ricocheted off Hayes’ chest into the back of the net. It was Hayes’ fourth tally of the season.
Ovechkin answered with an unorthodox goal of his own, collecting a rebound off Rask’s pads while falling to his knees, and, in one deft motion, poking the puck through the five-hole to tie the score at 1-1 with 2:33 left in the first period.
It was Ovechkin’s team-high seventh goal of the season.
NOTES: Washington coach Barry Trotz was named to the Team Canada coaching staff for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which will be held in Toronto from Sept. 17-Oct. 1, 2016. He served as an assistant for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships four previous times. … Bruins C Max Talbot started on the fourth line, replacing C Chris Kelly, who fractured his femur on Tuesday. … Scratches for Boston were C Zach Rinaldo, D Zach Trotman and RW David Pastrnak. … C Michael Latta returned to the lineup for the Capitals, joining the fourth line for just his fourth game of the season. … Scratches for Washington were D Taylor Chorney, C Chandler Stephenson and RW Stanislav Galiev. … Capitals D John Carlson notched his 200th career point with a first-period assist.
Lightning 4, Sabres 1
BUFFALO, New York — A three-goal burst in the first period led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
Center Steven Stamkos, center Tyler Johnson, right winger Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Victor Hedman scored for the Lightning (7-6-2). Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves.
Center Jack Eichel scored for the Sabres (5-8-0).
After Sabres starting goalie Linus Ullmark surrendered three goals on 11 shots in the first period, he was replaced. Chad Johnson entered and stopped all 10 shots he faced.
After Tampa Bay struggled to find offense during a recent skid — five losses in the previous six games — the Lightning came out flying against the Sabres.
Stamkos opened the scoring 5:55 into the game following a defensive breakdown in the Sabres’ zone. Center Vladislav Namestnikov found a wide-open Stamkos on a cross-ice pass to his left, and the Lightning captain buried a slap shot from the left circle for his seventh goal of the season.
Johnson made it 2-0 less than six minutes later. Center Alex Killorn found Johnson on the inside edge of the right circle with a backhand pass, and Johnson fired a wrist shot to the blocker side at 11:35.