Ovechkin Ties Goal Record as Caps Beat Leafs in Shootout

Alex Ovechkin had a goal in regulation and scored in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

Ovechkin made a quick move to the right on Toronto goalie James Reimer and flipped a shot past him for the first score of the tiebreaker. Washington goalie Braden Holtby then secured the win when he stopped Nazem Kadri's attempt with his right skate.

Nicklas Backstrom tied it with less than a second left in regulation for the Capitals, who have won two straight. Holtby had 23 saves through overtime.

Daniel Winnik and James van Riemsdyk scored in regulation for Toronto, and Reimer finished with 30 saves.

Washington now has earned points in 20 consecutive games against Atlantic Division teams. The Capitals are 17-0-3 during that stretch.

Both teams found plenty of chances in the 3-on-3 overtime but couldn't score.

Backstrom scored with 0.8 seconds left, beating Reimer from just outside the crease after a cross-ice pass from Justin Williams.

Washington appeared to tie it earlier, with 2:39 left on a goal by Ovechkin, but the officials overturned it after Toronto coach Mike Babcock challenged it based on goalie interference.

The Capitals needed to rally after van Riemsdyk's power-play goal at 9:27 of the third put the Leafs ahead 2-1.

Ovechkin earlier scored the tying goal at 4:51 of the second period and tied former teammate Sergei Fedorov for first place among Russian-born NHL players with 483 career goals.

Toronto took the early lead when Winnik beat Holtby with a wrist shot 2:36 into the game.

The Capitals had a good chance moments before but defenseman Morgan Rielly pushed the puck up to Winnik, who raced up the right wing and scored.

NOTES: Ovechkin played on the same line with Fedorov and credits his fellow Russian with helping him adjust to the NHL in the early days. ... Fedorov is going to be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday. ... This was just the third time in 14 games this season the Maple Leafs scored the game's first goal. ... Winnik appeared to injure his foot or ankle and needed to be helped off just 2:36 after scoring and did not return.

 
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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