Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Ovechkin returns with flourish, saves Capitals
Washington blows 3-0 lead, wins in OT
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored the overtime winner in his return, Vitek Vanecek made 40 saves in his sixth consecutive start, and the Washington Capitals beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 Saturday in a showdown between the NHL East Division’s top teams.
Ovechkin beat goaltender Tuukka Rask clean off a rush 28 seconds into OT in his first game since Jan.
19. The Washington captain missed the previous four games because of COVID-19 protocols.
Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and an assist, Trevor van Riemsdyk scored his first since joining the Capitals, and Richard Panik added a power-play goal for the Capitals, who were outshot 43-23.
Washington (6-0-3) blew a threegoal lead by allowing goals to Nick Ritchie, Brad Marchand and then Charlie McAvoy with 57.3 seconds left in regulation.
Former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara played almost 21 minutes in his first game against his former team, which didn’t see the defenseman as a full-time player at age 43.
Chara, who doesn’t wear a visor, took a puck to the face late in the first period but returned for the second and didn’t miss a shift.
■ Lightning 4, Predators 3: At Tampa, Fla., Tyler Johnson, Cal Foote, Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos scored in the second period, ending Tampa Bay’s five-period goal drought.
■ Flames 2, Canadiens 0: At Montreal, Jacob Markstrom stopped 37 shots in his seventh shutout and second this season, and Johnny Gaudreau scored at 3:34 of the first period.
■ Avalanche 5, Wild 1: At St. Paul, Minn., Brandon Saad had a goal and an assist, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 19 shots in his NHL-best sixth win. Ten Colorado players had a point.
■ Blues 6, Ducks 1: At Anaheim, Calif., Jordan Kyrou scored two of St. Louis’ three goals in the opening 2:06 as the Blues set a franchise record for the fastest three goals to start a game.
■ Canucks 4, Jets 1: At Winnipeg, Manitoba, Brock Boeser scored 29 seconds in and into an empty net with 2:01 left as Vancouver won for the first time in its past 11 games against Winnipeg.
■ Sabres 4, Devils 3, SO: At Buffalo, N.Y., Jack Eichel scored the lone shootout goal to back Linus Ullmark, who had 31 saves through overtime and three in the shootout.
■ Hurricanes 4, Stars 1: At Raleigh, N.C., Vincent Trocheck scored twice in a three-minute first-period span after Carolina goaltender Petr Mrazek left with an injury.
■ Penguins 5, Rangers 4, OT: At New York, Sidney Crosby scored 2:27 into overtime, and New York lost for the fifth time in six games — with all decided by one goal.
■ Panthers 3, Red Wings 2, OT:
At Detroit, Aleksi Heponiemi scored with 2:15 left in overtime in his NHL debut to back Sergei Bobrovsky, who had 25 saves.
■ Flyers 3, Islanders 2, OT: At Philadelphia, Scott Laughton scored with 1:44 left in overtime, and Philadelphia overcame a 28-17 disadvantage in shots.
■ Oilers 4, Maple Leafs 3, OT: At Edmonton, Alberta, Connor McDavid scored his second goal of the night 42 seconds into overtime and had an assist.