Canadiens respond to Ovechkin’s hit, beat Caps
WASHINGTON >> Shea Weber scored to extend his point streak to five games, Carey Price made 25 saves and the Montreal Canadiens responded to a big hit by Alex Ovechkin on Jonathan Drouin, beating the Washington Capitals 5-2 Friday night.
Phillip Danault, Weber, Jordan Weal and Nick Suzuki scored after Ovechkin flattened Drouin with an open ice hit that knocked him out for the rest of the second period. Drouin returned for the third.
Ovechkin’s shoulder-toshoulder blow on Drouin was the first big highlight of the night after a hohum first period. Ovechkin appeared to leave his feet to deliver the blow, and Drouin was slow to get up before skating to the bench and going down the tunnel.
Four goals in 11 minutes after the hit provided enough support for Price, who beat the Capitals for just the eighth time in 27 career games against them. Price’s biggest save came a few shifts after Drouin’s injury when he denied Jonas Siegenthaler and was bailed out by defenseman Brett Kulak blocking the rebound, and he made a series of crucial stops in the final minutes.
DEVILS 2, PENGUINS 1 >>
Mackenzie Blackwood made 38 saves as New Jersey beat Pittsburgh.
Travis Zajac and Blake Coleman scored for the Devils.
Jack Johnson scored for Penguins, and Matt Murray made 19 saves.
It was Pittsburgh’s first game without star center Sidney Crosby, who is expected to miss at least six weeks following surgery for a core muscle injury.
Zajac scored the only goal of the opening period at 6:59, converting a setup in the slot from Jesper Bratt.
The goal ended a 10game point drought for Zajac, the longest in the veteran center’s career.
Flames’ Brodie home after collapsing
CALGARY, ALBERTA >> Calgary Flames defenseman TJ Brodie is home from the hospital after falling to the ice and convulsing at practice.
General manager Brad Treliving said Friday that Brodie was “feeling good” and neurological tests came back negative. He’ll undergo more tests.
Practice was halted when Brodie collapsed and was taken to a hospital.
“After a few minutes, TJ was alert, he was responsive,” Treliving said. “A battery of tests took place and then TJ was released. He was at home last night resting with his family.”