Ovechkin hits milestone in Caps’ victory
>> NEW YORK: Alex Ovechkin reached the 500-assist career milestone and also scored his 30th goal of the season, leading the Washington Capitals to a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Ovechkin is one of only four active players with 500 assists and 500 goals, joining Jaromir Jagr, Marian Hossa and Patrick Marleau.
The Capitals, who also got goals from Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Brett Connolly, snapped a threegame losing streak. Carlson’s secondperiod goal was the game-winner.
Braden Holtby made 32 saves to earn the win, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who left the game due to an unspecified injury, added two assists for Washington. Florida’s Denis Malgin had the first two-goal game of his career.
In New Jersey, PK Subban scored for the third straight game and Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for his fourth shutout as Nashville blanked New Jersey 3-0.
Subban’s 12th goal of the season came at 9:48 of the second period, shortly after a face-off win by Ryan Johansen. The puck came to Mattias Ekholm, who teed up Subban at the left point for a slapper that squirted through the pads of rookie goalie Ken Appleby.
Ekholm and Viktor Arvidsson also scored for the Penguins.
In Pennsylvania, Evgeni Malkin finished with two goals and one assist, and Dominik Simon also scored twice as hosts Pittsburgh defeated Minnesota 6-3.
Sidney Crosby also added three assists and moved into second place in team history with 1,082 points. Before the game, Crosby had been tied with Jaromir Jagr.
Goalie Casey DeSmith finished with 23 saves for Pittsburgh, who jumped on top 6-0 before the Wild scored three late goals.
In Philadelphia, Vladislav Namestnikov scored two goals while Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde and Ryan Callahan each scored once to lift visiting Tampa Bay past Philadelphia 5-1.