Capitals grab key late-season win over Senators

Cole Hutson scored in his NHL debut for Washington, putting an exclamation mark on the Capitals' 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas also scored for Washington (34-27-8, 76 points), which has won two of its last three. Rasmus Sandin, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor McMichael recorded assists.

Logan Thompson was perfect for more than 57 minutes and stopped 34 shots as he won for the second time in six games this month (2-3-1).

Tim Stutzle scored his 31st goal for the Senators (34-24-9, 77 points), with Claude Giroux and Thomas Chabot assisting.

Linus Ullmark made 21 saves for Ottawa, which saw its two-game winning streak end.

Wednesday served as the highly awaited debut of Hutson, a 19-year-old defenseman and brother of Montreal blueliner Lane Hutson. He was on the ice for the opening faceoff, and was on the ice in the game's final minute on a 2-on-1 breakaway with an empty net. McMichael urged the rookie to take the shot, which he did with :26 left to end the scoring.

Ovechkin scored unconventionally with 11:51 left in the second period. The NHL's all-time goal scoring leader got career goal No. 922 when Sandin's feed into the slot caromed off his skate and off Senators defenseman Artem Zub before going past Ullmark.

It was Ovechkin's first goal since he scored a pair in a 6-2 loss at Montreal on Feb. 28. His last goal at home came on Jan. 7, as his 11-game home drought was the longest in his career.

The goal was also his 25th of the season, tying him with Gordie Howe with an NHL record 20 seasons reaching that mark. Including his postseason goals, Ovechkin now has 999, one away from joining Wayne Gretzy in the 1,000-goal club for regular-season and postseason play.

Wilson doubled the lead 10 minutes later, keeping him in step with Ovechkin for the team lead.

The Senators pulled Ullmark with more than three minutes left in regulation, and Stutzle made it a one-goal game with 2:41 in a scrum around the net.

Ullmark would remain on the bench, and Protas would take advantage with 92 seconds left. Ottawa's Tyler Kleven drew a penalty 20 seconds later, opening the door for Hutson's moment.

--Field Level Media