Alex Ovechkin’s Hat Trick and T.J. Oshie’s Return Power Caps to 6-2 Win Over Red Wings

For the second time in 18 days, the Washington Capitals hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Capital One Arena. Once again, the Caps protected home ice with a 6-2 win, their third in a row, to keep ahead for first place in the Metropolitan Division now up by five points on the Blue Jackets with a 18-9-3 record (39 points). The offense got a boost with T.J. Oshie‘s return after being out for over three weeks with a concussion. Oshie scored in this contest that also saw tallies from Brett Connolly, Travis Boyd, and Alex Ovechkin times three. 

The Caps struck for three goals in the opening period and never looked back. First Connolly tipped in a shot from John Carlson. It was Connolly’s sixth goal of the season.

The fourth line connected with a tic-tac-toe goal from Dmitrij Jaskin to Nic Dowd to Boyd for the finish. The goal was Boyd’s first at Capital One Arena and the second straight game he scored after notching his first career goal in Saturday’s win at Columbus.

Then Ovechkin’s scoring night began with one of those flukey goals. Seems like Ovi makes it every time he shoots it. This one went off a couple of Red Wings defenders.

In the second, Ovechkin scored his second goal of the game with a great snapshot.

Then Oshie struck on the power play for his 10th goal of the year. Welcome back Oshbabe!

In the third Ovi completed the hat trick with a shot off the face-off. His three-goal night now has him at 24 on the season. That was the 21st hat trick of Ovechkin’s career which leads the franchise as well as his first hatty of the season. Additionally, Nicklas Backstrom had another four-assist game.

The Capitals will hit the road to take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. They’ll return to Capital One Arena the following night to host the Sabres.

 

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