UNDATED (AP) — Alex Ovechkin has extended the Washington Capitals’ winning streak and vaulted them into undisputed possession of first place in the NHL’s East Division.
Ovechkin scored twice in the final seven minutes to rally the Caps to their seventh consecutive win, 2-1 over the Rangers. The left wing tied it on a rebound with 6:42 left and put the Capitals ahead on a nearly identical play with 3:33 remaining. He has scored in five consecutive games and has seven goals in the past seven.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— William Karlsson had the winning goal, Max Pacioretty scored twice and the Golden Knights doubled up the Kings, 4-1. Robin Lehner made 23 saves as Vegas won its fifth in a row.
— The Blues’ five-tame skid is over after Vladimir Tarasenko scored the decisive goal in a shootout to give them a 2-1 verdict over the Sharks. Tyler Bozak scored a short-handed goal on his 35th birthday to tie the game in the third period.
— Mark Giordano broke a tie midway through the second period and Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves as the Flames handed the Maple Leafs their sixth loss in seven games, 4-3. Matthew Tkachuk, Derek Ryan and Christopher Tanev also scored, and Rasmus Andersson had two assists.
— J.T. Miller scored at 2:01 of overtime to give the Canucks their fourth straight victory, 3-2 over the Canadiens. Nick Suzuki forced overtime with a power-play goal with 57 seconds left in overtime with Montreal on a two-man advantage.
