Alex Ovechkin scores twice as the Capitals beat the Rangers 5-3

Alex Ovechkin scored doubly arsenic nan Washington Capitals hit nan New York Rangers 5-3

WASHINGTON -- WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored profession goals 855 and 856 little than 2 minutes apart, and nan Washington Capitals hit nan New York Rangers 5-3 connected Tuesday nighttime successful a back-and-forth showcase of nan sport.

Ovechkin moved 38 distant from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL profession goals record, scoring 2 of nan 7 successful nan game's first 25 minutes. A furious commencement besides included Matt Rempe fighting Dylan McIlrath successful his return to nan Rangers lineup, electrifying nan sellout crowd mixed betwixt location reddish and visiting blue.

Capitals fans went location happy arsenic their squad continued a beardown commencement acknowledgment to Connor McMichael's 4th extremity of nan play and nan 2nd by Aliaksei Protas, who had a brace of assists for a three-point night. Logan Thompson made 16 saves and Nic Dowd sealed it pinch an empty-netter pinch 35.8 seconds left.

Despite allowing 4 goals, Igor Shesterkin was arguably nan champion subordinate connected nan crystal successful stopping 41 of nan 45 shots he faced. New York sewage goals from Will Cuylle 58 seconds aft Ovechkin's first, Chris Kreider connected nan powerfulness play and Filip Chytil connected a deflection but could not springiness Shesterkin capable support.

Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun near early pinch what nan squad called an upper-body injury.

Rangers: Something is still disconnected pinch halfway Mika Zibanejad, whose minutes are down.

Capitals: Ovechkin isn't slowing down astatine property 39 and is now connected gait to necktie Gretzky by nan extremity of nan season.

Ovechkin scored connected a changeable Shesterkin had nary chance of stopping 5:10 into nan first play disconnected a provender from Protas, and nan Caps ne'er trailed.

Washington has gone 20 consecutive powerfulness plays without scoring, yet has won 5 of six games without it.

The Rangers unfastened a three-game homestand Friday nighttime against Ottawa, while nan Capitals proceed theirs Thursday nighttime erstwhile they big Montreal.

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