Alex Ovechkin scored an empty-net purpose in his return to motion because the Washington Capitals upended the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday evening.
Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun, Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson additionally scored for the Capitals. John Tavares and Bobby McMann scored for the Leafs.
Washington’s captain Ovechkin performed his first sport since he fractured his left fibula Nov. 18 in a sport in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership.
Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet Saturday till firing the puck into an empty web for his 869th profession purpose.
Logan Thompson stopped 35 pictures for the win. Matt Murray made 27 saves for Toronto.
Takeaways
Capitals: Ovechkin performed 14 minutes, 58 seconds, recorded three hits and three pictures along with his purpose. Washington was nonetheless capable of thrive with out its captain. The Capitals went 10-5-1 report in 16 video games whereas Ovechkin was injured.
Maple Leafs: Toronto has misplaced three of 4 video games with out Auston Matthews within the lineup, who was out with an upper-body damage. Toronto has allowed not less than 5 targets in every of these 4 video games, and 21 whole throughout that span.
Key second
Thompson had a scorching glove hand all through the sport. Washington’s goalie robbed Toronto ahead William Nylander of a positive purpose when Thompson dove throughout the crease to grab a shot at a yawning cage out of mid-air. Nylander was Thompson’s sufferer once more within the third interval when a deflected power-play shot from the purpose was scooped by Thompson, who was dealing with the again of the web.
Key stat
With an help on Ovechkin’s empty-net purpose, Pierre-Luc Dubois prolonged his level streak to 5 video games with a complete of 1 purpose and 5 assists.
Up subsequent
The Capitals go to the Detroit Crimson Wings on Sunday. The Maple Leafs host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
