Alex Ovechkin reached the 700-assist mark for his career with two during Washington’s three-goal second period, and the Capitals went on to win 4-2 against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.
Now in his 20th NHL season, Ovechkin had helpers on goals by Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas, giving him 700 assists to go along with his 853 goals.
Jakob Chychrun also scored in the second while Jakub Vrana had a first-period goal to begin his second stint with Washington, which rebounded following Saturday’s 5-3, season-opening loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Meanwhile, ex-Golden Knight Logan Thompson made 24 saves in his Capitals debut.
Victor Olofsson and Jack Eichel each scored while Mark Stone recorded two assists for Vegas, which suffered its first loss in four games to open the season. In their first road contest, the Golden Knights got 18 saves from Adin Hill, who has allowed 11 goals in three starts this season.
Washington opened the scoring 6:02 into the contest. On the forecheck in the Vegas zone, the Capitals’ Andrew Mangiapane forced the Golden Knights’ Zach Whitecloud into a turnover, then backhanded the puck to a waiting Vrana to convert.
Vegas eventually answered with 2:11 remaining in the opening period. On a power play, Olofsson one-timed the puck past an out-of-position Thompson via some tic-tac-toe passing from Tomas Hertl and Stone.
Washington regained the lead 3:06 into the second on its third power play. Ovechkin won a battle along the corner board, then pushed the puck to Dylan Strome, who, from behind the net, found Wilson in the slot for Wilson’s second goal of the season.
Just over two minutes later, Ovechkin again gained the puck on the corner board and sent it to Protas to send home from the slot. Then, at 6:13, Chychrun made it 4-1 with his first marker of the campaign.
The Golden Knights ended Washington’s goal streak with 12:43 left in the second. After more elite passing from Stone and Ivan Barbashev, Eichel converted into an open net, with Thompson slow to react.
–Field Level Media
