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The Washington Capitals snapped a two-game losing streak, edging the New York Rangers 4-3 in overtime. Alex Ovechkin netted two power play goals in the win. The first of which, from his office off a one-timer feed from John Carlson, left Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist baffled on how he was so easily fooled.
ALEX OVECHKIN! POWER PLAY GOAL! WHAT'S NEW?!?!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/jgEzNj1Yyy
— NHL Highlights #StanleyCup | HockeyDaily365 (@HockeyDaily365) October 18, 2018
“I didn’t expect him to shoot at all,” Lundvist told reporters per Brian McNally of NHL.com. “He hit it hard, so when I realized he shot it, it was just hard to recover. But I should know with that guy he can shoot from anywhere.”
Lundqvist added he “learned” his lesson dealing with Ovechkin and essentially knows to be prepared at all times when the puck is near his stick.
The goal was Ovechkin’s fifth of six on the season. The Capitals went back and forth with Rangers, as Ovechkin’s second goal of the game that put the Capitals ahead 3-2 was answered in the third Rangers forward Chris Kreider 10:20 into the period.
However, it was Matt Nisakanen who played hero in the extra period casually burying the rebound off Evgeny Kuznetsov’s shot in overtime for the win.
When opportunity presents itself in @EASPORTSNHL OT, you make it count. Matt Niskanen certainly did for the @Capitals. #WNH https://t.co/w2kQwNUuzQ
— NHL (@NHL) October 18, 2018
The win improves the Capitals to 3-2-1 on the season and gives them a much-needed two points. The Rangers played tough and even drew a morale victory in the loss, but the Capitals just needed to get back on track after tough losses to the undefeated New Jersey Devils and Atlantic Division top team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in their last two games.
Other notes:
— Braden Holtby stopped 29 of 32 shots.
— Nicklas Backstrom had a pair of assists to push his season total to eight.
— John Carlson scored a goal and had two assists. It’s the third straight game the Capitals’ top defenseman has scored a goal and tallied an assist.
