Canucks top struggling Capitals with OT goal

Not much has gone wrong for the Vancouver Canucks this season, so back-to-back losses hit harder.

Like clockwork, the NHL’s top team didn’t let the losing linger.

This time it was J.T. Miller providing the heroics, scoring with 4.8 seconds left in overtime to give Vancouver a 3-2 victory at the Washington Capitals in the traditional Super Bowl Sunday matinee in the nation’s capital, ending their brief skid. The Canucks have not lost more than two in a row through 53 games.

“Things have gone so well this year that when you lose one, it feels like the end of the world,” veteran defenseman Tyler Myers said. “But guys are doing a good job of sticking with it. Some things to clean up coming off the break, but we just have to keep pushing forward.”

Despite Alex Ovechkin scoring again, the Capitals lost for a sixth time in seven games. Ovechkin has a goal in each of the past five games to reach 13 this season and 835 for his career — 60 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record — his longest such streak since March 2021.

“The puck goes in, it’s a good thing,” Ovechkin said. “I’ll take it and move on.”

Conor Garland and Nils Hoglander scored for Vancouver. Hoglander’s goal came 71 seconds after Ovechkin put Washington ahead midway through the second period, and Miller scored with 4.8 seconds left in 3-on-3 OT off a turnover by Connor McMichael.

“Tough finish,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “Just disappointing the way that ends. That’s just a tough mistake for a young player, but we’ll learn from it.”

Nic Dowd scored 1:08 in to give the Capitals an early lead, the eighth goal of the season for a player whose

trade value is increasing by the game. Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves in the loss.

BLUES 7, CANADIENS 2 » Jordan Kyrou scored twice and Torey Krug had five assists and St. Louis earned a victory at Montreal.

Robert Thomas had a goal and three assists, Jake Neighbours added a goal and one assist, while Colton Parayko, Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker also scored for St. Louis. Jordan Binnington made 30 saves for the Blues.

St. Louis has won seven of its past eight games.