Alex Ovechkin scored twice, and the Washington Capitals rallied past old coach Bruce Boudreau and the visiting Vancouver Canucks 6-4 on Monday night for their second consecutive victory.
OvechkinB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s first two goals of the season, 56 seconds in and with 2:58 left in regulation, bookended the Capitals blowing a lead and coming back. Dylan Strome got the comeback started with a power-play goal early in the third, continuing his strong start with his new team, before John Carlson tied it and Conor Sheary put the Capitals ahead.
Winger Connor Brown, a newcomer like Strome, exited with an apparent right leg injury after going into the boards awkwardly early in the third. The team said Brown had a lower-body injury.
Down a skater, the Capitals were still able to get back into the game with goals from Carlson with 11:17 left in regulation and Sheary with 7:16 remaining, avoiding what would have been their worst four-game start in nearly a decade.
Next up, Columbus.
B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·” Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)
They spoiled BoudreauB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s latest chance to reach 600 career regular-season NHL wins. Despite a goal and two assists from Elias Pettersson, the Canucks blew a two-goal advantage for a third consecutive game, all losses, to start the season 0-3-0.
WashingtonB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s Darcy Kuemper rebounded well after whiffing on the puck on a bad bounce to give Pettersson a gift goal with 7.3 seconds left in the first. He finished with 26 saves.
VancouverB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s Thatcher Demko allowed six goals on 30 shots.
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Lars Eller also scored for Washington, taking advantage of a big bounce off the end boards 8 seconds into the second.
Up next, the Canucks make their fourth stop on a five-game trip Tuesday night at the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Capitals are set to travel to CanadaB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s capital to face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
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