Monday's hockey: Capitals pass Wings in standings, Ovechkin joins Howe in elite class
Calgary, Alberta — Alex Ovechkin scored twice and became the third player in NHL history to have at least 20 goals in 19 consecutive seasons as the Washington Capitals beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 on Monday night.
The 38-year-old Ovechkin had two power-play goals in the second period as Washington won its third straight game. He joined former Detroit Red Wings Gordie Howe (22) and Brendan Shanahan (19) as the only players to achieve the goal-scoring feat.
Dylan Strome, Hendrix Lapierre and Tom Wilson also scored for Washington (33-25-9), which moved into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of idle Detroit. It’s the first time the Capitals have occupied a playoff spot since Jan. 2.
In fact, since Washington lost in Detroit, 8-3, on Feb. 27, the Capitals have gone 6-3, including consecutive road wins in Seattle, Vancouver and Calgary. They'll begin a four-game homestand against Toronto on Wednesday, Carolina on Saturday, Winnipeg on Sunday and then the Wings on Tuesday, March 26.
Kevin Rooney and MacKenzie Weegar scored for Calgary (33-30-5). The Flames finished 2-2-0 in a four-game homestand.
Washington goalie Charlie Lindgren had 34 saves and improved to 18-11-5. He has won five of his last six games with a .956 save percentage.
Calgary rookie Dustin Wolf allowed four goals on 32 shots in his third straight start and saw his record dip to 3-4-1. Wolf had allowed three goals on 67 shots in winning his last two games.
Ovechkin's 20th goal of the season made it 2-0 at 5:58 of the second period. Ovechkin went to the net where he neatly deflected a hard centring pass from Max Pacioretty (Michigan) into the top corner. After pumping his arms in celebration, Ovechkin immediately looked over at Pacioretty and pointed, acknowledging the terrific pass.
Just over three minutes later, Washington’s power play struck again. Ovechkin set up at the top of the faceoff circle, stick cocked. When John Carlson slid a pass across, Ovechkin leaned into a slap shot that beat Wolf inside the near post.
Ovechkin has 12 goals in 20 games since the All-Star break after scoring just nine times in 44 games before that. He raised his career goal total to 843, second to – and 51 behind – Wayne Gretzky.
The Capitals have been helped in their playoff chase by a rejuvenated power play. On Jan. 18, Washington had the league’s third-worst power play at 13.3%. Over the last two months, including going 2-for-3 against Calgary, the Capitals have the league’s third-best power play at 29.1%.
Buffalo 6, (at) Seattle 2: Jeff Skinner had a hat trick, with his first goal coming during a three-goal outburst in the first six minutes to chase goaltender Joey Daccord, and the Buffalo cruised to a 6-2 victory.
Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch also scored in the first period for the Sabres, who earned their first win in six tries against the third-year Kraken. Buffalo is now three points behind Detroit and four points behind the Capitals for the second wild-card spot.
Owen Power (Michigan) had Buffalo’s other goal. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves.
The three-goal barrage came after Jordan Eberle gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead just 24 seconds into the game. Matty Beniers (Michigan) scored on a power play late in the first but the Kraken lost their fifth straight game – all at home.
Playoff tracker
Atlantic
▶ Bruins (95)
▶ Panthers (94)
▶ Maple Leafs (85)
Metropolitan
▶ Rangers (94)
▶ Hurricanes (90)
▶ Flyers (76)
Wild card
▶ Lightning (78)
▶ Capitals (75)
(Top two wild-card teams make the playoffs)
▶ Red Wings (74)
▶ Islanders (73)
▶ Sabres (71)
▶ Pittsburgh (69)
▶ Devils (68)
Two Broncos earn awards
Western Michigan's Logan Pietila was named forward of the week and teammate Max Koskipirtti rookie of the week in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) on Monday.
Pietila (Howell) led the Huskies to a 4-3 victory over Minnesota State in the Mason Cup semifinals on Saturday, scoring two goals, including the game-winner with 9.1 seconds left in regulation. Koskipirtti (Espoo, Finland) picked up a league-best two assists in Saturday's victory.
N. Michigan's Van Unen off to ECHL
Northern Michigan defenseman Mike Van Unen signed with the Adirondack Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets.
Van Unen, 25, finished his fifth season at Northern Michigan University and recorded four points in 17 games. In 150 games with Northern Michigan, he recorded nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points and 181 minutes in penalties.
Michigan-area hockey this week
Tuesday
▶ Columbus at Red Wings, 7 (BSD/97.1)
▶ Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 11:30 a.m. (AHL/96.1)
Wednesday
▶ Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 8 (AHL/106.9/1300)
Thursday
▶ N.Y. Islanders at Red Wings, 7 (BSD/97.1)
Friday
▶ Michigan Tech at Bermidji State, 8
▶ NTDP U17's at Green Bay, 8
Saturday
▶ Red Wings at Nashville, 5 (BSD/97.1)
▶ Grand Rapids at Rockford, 8 (AHL/106.9/1300)
▶ Michigan at Michigan State, 8 (Big Ten)
▶ NTDP U17's at Madison, 8