Kuznetsov, Ovechkin Lead Caps Over Canadiens 6-3

WASHINGTON (AP) — Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his seventh extremity and added an assist, Alex Ovechkin had 3 assists successful a crippled for the archetypal clip successful astir 4 years, and the Washington Capitals cruised to a 6-3 triumph implicit the Montreal Canadiens connected Wednesday night.

Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson and Nic Dowd besides had a extremity and an assistance each arsenic Washington won its seventh retired of 9 successful its instrumentality from a four-game West Coast trip.

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“Coming disconnected the roadworthy travel … I thought the crippled was bully and the archetypal play was excellent,” Washington manager Peter Laviolette said.

Michael Sgarbossa scored his archetypal vocation extremity for the Capitals to assistance them to a 3-0 lead. Tom Wilson completed Ovechkin’s three-assist nighttime erstwhile helium scored connected a one-timer of his feed.

Ilya Samsonov made 25 saves portion winning his seventh crippled successful 8 starts, contempt seeing his shutout streak snapped astatine 170 minutes, 13 seconds.

Artturi Lehkonen and Jake Evans each had a extremity and an assistance for Montreal, which mislaid its 5th crippled retired of six failed successful its bid for its archetypal back-to-back wins of the season.

“It’s wide we’re not the aforesaid squad the 2nd game,” said Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen, who made 28 stops. “We fto disconnected the state a small spot and we’re playing immoderate bully teams, and they marque you wage beauteous quickly.”

It took Washington 15 minutes to unfastened a three-goal lead.

Dowd opened the scoring connected a wraparound follow-up of his ain rebound.

Carlson made it 2-0 erstwhile his one-timer from the constituent sailed past a screened Allen and disconnected the underside of the crossbar.

Then Montreal helped Washington’s origin erstwhile Sgarbossa deflected Cedric Paquette’s clearance effort toward Allen’s extremity and Alexander Romanov mistakenly kicked it into his ain net.

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Ovechkin’s walk crossed the crease to Wilson made it 5-2 successful the third, and Orlov made it 6-2 earlier Lehkonen scored late.

“I deliberation it’s each astir the situation,” Ovechkin said of his three-assist night. “I’ll instrumentality it.” OVI’S UNUSUAL NIGHT

The NHL’s 4th all-time starring extremity scorer, Ovechkin has contributed 3 assists 16 times successful his vocation and achieved the feat for the archetypal clip since Feb. 15, 2018.

With 18 assists connected the season, he’s successful presumption to scope 20 for the archetypal clip since helium had 38 successful 2018-19.

“I ever deliberation there’s that country wherever you person to marque the close decision,” Laviolette said of Ovechkin, who besides has 15 goals. “It can’t conscionable beryllium astir 1 happening oregon the the different thing. He’s done a truly bully occupation of that.”

NOTES

Canadiens: Have allowed opponents astatine slightest 1 power-play extremity successful 3 consecutive games. … Lost their sixth consecutive roadworthy game. … Allen returned aft missing 4 games with a concussion.

Capitals: Laviolette earned his 865th vocation win, passing Pat Quinn for sole possession of 11th spot connected the all-time NHL list. … Have a cleanable grounds successful six games scoring 5 oregon much goals. … D Justin Schultz near with an upper-body wounded and is “day-to-day,” Laviolette said.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Visit Buffalo connected Friday.

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Capitals: Host Florida connected Friday.