Ovechkin scores twice, including OT winner as Caps beat Jets
WASHINGTON — Even after Alex Ovechkin bailed the Washington Capitals out of trouble to win their fourth game in a row, all he wanted to talk about was how it almost slipped away.
The Capitals blew a three-goal lead in the third period Thursday night before beating the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime. Ovechkin had two goals, including the game-winner, and assisted on Nicklas Backstrom’s first of the season, but the blown lead was the biggest takeaway for a team that should again be a Stanley Cup contender.
“We just can’t stop playing,” said Ovechkin, tied for second in the NHL with six goals. “I think we stopped playing. We (were) too casual, and it almost cost us the game.”
Goals by Backstrom, Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie, and an 18-5 second-period shot advantage had Washington on cruise control. Braden Holtby made 11 of his 24 saves in the first period, and his opportunistic teammates took advantage of turnovers in front and rebounds allowed by Winnipeg starter Michael Hutchinson, who made 28 stops.