McMichael, Ovechkin power surging Capitals past Blue Jackets 7-2

Connor McMichael struck twice, Alex Ovechkin scored his 859th profession extremity and nan Washington Capitals defeated nan Columbus Blue Jackets 7-2 connected Saturday night

WASHINGTON -- Connor McMichael struck twice, Alex Ovechkin scored his 859th profession extremity and 2 assists and nan Washington Capitals continued their ascendant commencement to nan play pinch a 7-2 triumph complete nan Columbus Blue Jackets connected Saturday night.

McMichael and Ovechkin some person goals successful 3 consecutive games for Washington, which advances to 8-2 connected nan season.

Ovechkin is 36 goals distant from breaking Wayne Gretzky's record. He's presently connected gait to decorativeness pinch 49 goals, which would group him up to deed 895 later this season.

Both Ovechkin and McMichael helped ignite Washington's discourtesy arsenic nan squad managed a five-goal first period, wherever each 4 lines sewage connected nan scoresheet. Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc scored for nan Blue Jackets, who dropped some games of their back-to-back.

Logan Thompson made 34 saves and remains undefeated truthful acold successful his Capitals' tenure. Daniil Tarasov stopped 15 of 22 shots for Columbus.

Blue Jackets: Columbus outshot Washington, but nan defense struggled successful beforehand of Tarasov arsenic nan squad gave up six goals for nan 2nd consecutive game. The Blue Jackets were outscored 12-4 successful this back-to-back series.

Capitals: Offense continues to travel easy for nan surging Caps, which wasn't nan communicative past season. They've scored astatine slightest 5 goals successful 5 of nan past 7 games.

Aliaksei Protas sewage nan scoring started conscionable 56 seconds successful connected a 2-on-0 break pinch Dylan Strome, who besides had a three-point night, for his 3rd extremity successful arsenic galore games.

Ovechkin is up to six goals successful 10 games to unfastened nan 2024-25 season. Last year, it took him 30 games to deed that number, which besides came against nan Blue Jackets.

The Capitals sojourn nan Hurricanes connected Sunday, and The Blue Jackets caput retired westbound to look nan Sharks connected Tuesday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl