Ovechkin, Holtby help Capitals to shootout win over Leafs

On the night he wanted to break Sergei Fedorov’s record for most goals by a Russian-born player, Alex Ovechkin did, then he didn’t, as Toronto’s coach’s challenge got the initial game-tying goal overturned, keeping Ovechkin from getting the Russian record. “We’ve got plenty of time”. “When you needed him to step up, he does. There’s no question, he’s a golden star”. Despite having played last night against Detroit, Toronto came ready to play tonight.

Capitals goalie Braden Holtby then stopped middle Nazem Kadri to seal the win.

Only Alex Ovechkin, who earlier in the game tied an National Hockey League record, scored in the post-overtime skills competition and the Leafs were sent to their 12th loss in 14 games with Mike Babcock behind the bench.

Close calls, great saves, and a few interesting passes provided no victor in 3-on-3 overtime. Morgan Reilly puts it on goal and James Van Riemsdyk scores to put the Leafs up 2-1.

Washington has earned points in 20 consecutive games against Atlantic Division teams. The Capitals are 17-0-3 during that stretch.

Backstrom forced overtime when he scored with eight-tenths of a second left in regulation off a pass from right winger Justin Williams.

Williams elaborated a bit more “I went to the net, did everything I could to not touch the goalie, and I don’t think I was interfering with him when the shot was taken”. “Lucky, but it felt nice”.

The puck deflected off a Toronto player, but Ovechkin flipped the loose disc past Reimer for his first power play goal of the season.Winnik had given Toronto a 1-0 lead just 2:36 in when he fired a wrist shot from the right circle over Holtby’s shoulder for his second goal of the season.

BUFFALO, New York – Rasmus Ristolainen scored his second goal of the game with 16.8 seconds left to lead Buffalo over Vancouver.

“That’s what (Ovechkin) has done here for a long time – big goals at big times”, Trotz said. “You have to think about the game”.

Toronto, which will practise at home on Monday before heading out for games in Dallas and Nashville, fell to 2-8-4.

MONTREAL – David Desharnais scored late in the third period to lift Montreal to a come-from-behind win over Boston.

Leafs pick up a point but lose in a shootout 3-2. The Cleveland Indians also put in an unsuccessful bid, according to mlb.com. Sending the Caps to their first shootout of the year. The fee was set by Ashford Stud, Coolmore’s American breeding facility in Versailles, Ky.

Short-track speedskating: Rookie Thomas Hong, an Atholton alumnus and a Maryland freshman, got out of the repechage rounds with a Heat 1 win in the men’s 500 meters at the worldwide Skating Union’s World Cup meet in Toronto, but he finished fourth in his quarterfinal heat in 41.587 seconds and did not advance. This loss marks the first road-drop of the Bruins since the start of the season.