Ovechkin leads Caps past Ducks

Hockey Betting Lines

11/20/2008 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Ovechkin registered a goal and three assists, as the Washington Capitals defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 6-4, at Honda Center.

David Steckel had a goal and an assist, while Michael Nylander collected two helpers for the Capitals, who had a five-game winning streak snapped by the Devils on Saturday. Mike Green scored a goal and assisted on another before leaving in the first period with an undisclosed injury.

Jose Theodore stopped 28-of-32 shots to get the win.

Bobby Ryan contributed two goals and an assist for Anaheim, which posted a 2-3-1 record during its season-high six-game homestand. Ryan Getzlaf added a goal and an assist.

Jonas Hiller got the start for the Ducks and was pulled after he allowed three goals on six shots. Jean-Sebastien Giguere finished with 24 saves.

Despite a 14-5 edge in shots, Washington had just a one-goal lead through the opening 20 minutes.

The Capitals took advantage of an undisciplined Ducks squad and raced out to a 3-0 lead, chasing Hiller from the crease along the way.

With Anaheim blueliner Bret Hedican in the box for hooking, Green unleashed a rocket from the right point that caromed off the shaft of Tomas Fleischmann's stick in the low slot 2:19 into the contest.

Washington struck again on the power play.

Green, who made a big breakthrough in 2007-08, leading all NHL defensemen with 18 goals, scored his seventh of this season less than two minutes later. Similar to the first tally, the 2004 first-round pick let go a shot from up high, but this time the puck deflected off the hand of Anaheim's Todd Marchant and squeezed between the left arm and body of Hiller.

Looking to jump-start his lethargic team, Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle switched goaltenders following Nicklas Backstrom's backhand tally. The move appeared to work, as Ryan, chosen behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby in the 2005 draft, put the Ducks on the board at the 7:37 mark, 24 seconds after Backstrom lit the lamp.

Washington defenseman Jeff Schultz had trouble corralling a bouncing puck at his blueline. Ryan stole the puck and made a backhand pass to Getzlaf, charging down the right side, and his wrister sailed over the shoulder of Theodore with 3:04 remaining.

Ovechkin restored a two-goal edge for Washington 2:43 into the middle stanza. While up a man, Chris Clark made a backhand pass to an uncovered Ovechkin in the left circle and he fired a low wrister past Giguere's left pad, extending his goal streak to five games.

Bradley gave the Caps a 5-2 cushion with 2:12 left in the frame.

Steckel found the back of the net midway through the third period, then Ryan countered 27 seconds later, jamming in a rebound.

Teemu Selanne's league-leading ninth power-play goal of the season trimmed the deficit to 6-4 with eight minutes remaining and Washington held on down the stretch.

Game Notes

Ovechkin has compiled six goals and eight assists over his last five games...Washington made its first trip to the Honda Center since January 13, 2006...Anaheim had won three of the last four meetings with the Caps...Washington went 3-for-8 on the power play, while the Ducks finished 1- for-5...Backstrom is riding a six-game point streak (three goals, 10 assists)...Corey Perry notched three assists for Anaheim...Washington forward Alexander Semin sat out his second straight game with an undisclosed upper- body injury.