Ovechkin, sitting on 800 profession targets, one again of Gordie Howe for No. 2 on the NHL’s all-time listing, was held with out a purpose for the second straight sport. He had two photographs on former Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov in 18 minutes 15 seconds of ice time.
Gustafsson opened the scoring 8:48 into the primary interval, added his second tally early within the second and accomplished his hat trick 3:47 into the ultimate interval, with the ultimate rating pushing Washington’s result in 5-2. Lindgren (34 saves) took it from there.
“We’re just answering the bell,” the goalie stated. “All four lines, our D-men are playing excellent. It’s a really good win against a really good hockey team.”
Gustafsson’s three targets had been the primary for the defenseman all season. He turned solely the third Capitals defenseman to attain a hat trick and the primary since Sergei Gonchar in 2000.
“Scoring the first goal as a Cap, too, and get a hatty on that is pretty unbelievable. It was a great feeling,” stated Gustafsson, who added he “blacked out” after scoring his third purpose.
The contest was a one-goal affair headed to the third interval earlier than Washington seized management. Garnet Hathaway scored 10 seconds into the ultimate body and Gustafsson struck a short time later.
“We’re helping out each other in every zone we play,” Gustafsson stated. “I think we’re feeling it a little bit now, and we just got to keep it rolling.”
It wasn’t all good news for Washington (16-13-4). T.J. Oshie suffered what seemed to be a noncontact upper-body harm halfway by means of the second interval whereas skating on the backcheck. He pulled up in clear discomfort, skated to the bench and needed to arise as he leaned on his stick grimacing in ache.
During the TV timeout, Oshie used the boards to assist him slowly get to the opposite finish of the bench and exit down the tunnel with help. The workforce later introduced he can be reevaluated Sunday.
Oshie was beforehand harm Oct. 29 in opposition to Nashville and missed 11 video games earlier than returning Nov. 23.
“I think because of the [injury] history there is always a concern,” Coach Peter Laviolette stated.
Gustafsson’s first purpose got here when he beat Samsonov on the left put up. William Nylander knotted the rating two minutes later for the Maple Leafs (19-7-6) earlier than Trevor van Riemsdyk answered about 90 seconds later together with his third purpose in 4 video games. The Capitals saved that 2-1 lead into intermission.
Samsonov, who performed his first sport in Washington since he signed with Toronto within the offseason, completed with 23 saves.
Ovechkin has had a historical past of slowing down barely earlier than milestone targets. Back in 2020, the Russian star scored a hat trick in opposition to Los Angeles to achieve 698. He then went goalless in 5 video games earlier than finally scoring on consecutive nights to hit 700.
“It’ll come for sure,” heart Evgeny Kuznetsov stated. “There is no doubt. I feel like the more people talk, the more pressure it puts [on Ovechkin].”
“Congrats to him,” Samsonov stated earlier than the sport. “It’s really great for him. Everyone knows he’s a nice player and great sniper. I wish him the best in pursuing Gretzky’s record. But not against Toronto.”
Here’s what else to know in regards to the Capitals’ win:
Nic Dowd didn’t play after he was a late scratch with a lower-body harm. Dowd was a full participant within the morning skate, and the small print of his harm weren’t instantly disclosed. Saturday was the primary sport Dowd has missed.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel took Dowd’s place within the lineup.
Goalie Hunter Shepard additionally was dominated out with an upper-body harm. Shepard has but to play in an NHL sport after he was known as up from the workforce’s American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey, Pa. Shepard had acted as a backup to Lindgren for the previous six video games.
Netminder Zach Fucale was recalled from Hershey to take Shepard’s place as Lindgren’s backup. Darcy Kuemper continues to be on injured reserve. Laviolette stated Saturday morning that Kuemper is getting nearer to returning to the lineup.
Backstrom sheds noncontact jersey
Nicklas Backstrom practiced for the primary time Saturday in a full-contact jersey. Laviolette stated Backstrom now not being in a noncontact jersey is “another step” and “certainly a positive sign” however that the veteran heart nonetheless has “a lot of work to do” earlier than returning to the lineup. Backstrom might want to undergo prolonged practices with substantial contact earlier than Washington can gauge the place he’s at.
