Alex Ovechkin, Connor McMichael power Caps past Devils
Feb 17, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) prepares for a face off against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the Bell Centre. credits: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports Alex Ovechkin collected two goals and an assist and Connor McMichael scored twice for his first career multi-goal game on Tuesday, lifting the host Washington Capitals to a 6-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Ovechkin extended his point streak to nine games with his offensive outburst.
Washington's Dylan Strome recorded a goal and two assists and Michael Sgarbossa scored his first goal of the campaign.
Charlie Lindgren made 37 saves for the Capitals, who posted their third victory in four games in the season series versus the Devils. Washington also earned at least one point in 10 of its last 11 home games (7-1-3) versus New Jersey.
McMichael put forth a brilliant individual effort to score his second goal of the game and give the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 4:17 of the second period. He made a slick move to skate past rookie defenseman Simon Nemec well above the right circle before deking Nico Daws (19 saves) to the ice and tucking the puck just inside the near post.
McMichael's two tallies also gave him career-high totals in both goals (10) and points (20) on the season. Five of his 19 career goals have come at the expense of the Devils.
Strome scored his team-leading 21st goal of the season at 4:10 of the third period and later won a faceoff to set up Ovechkin, who wired a shot from inside the left circle to extend the Capitals' advantage to 4-1 at 8:44.
Sgarbossa scored from the doorstep less than four minutes later, and Ovechkin answered Erik Haula's tally by capping the scoring with 33 seconds left in the game on a power play.
Aliaksei Protas' shot from just inside the right circle produced a juicy rebound for McMichael, who deposited the puck past Daws to open the scoring 39 seconds into the game.
Alexander Holtz forged a tie at 1-1 with 4:54 remaining in the first period. Nemec dangled the puck around T.J. Oshie before wiring a cross-seam pass that Holtz converted on the doorstep for his 13th goal of the season.
—Field Level Media
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