UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Capitals own the best point total in the NHL after winning a battle of Metropolitan Division leaders.
The Capitals blew a 2-0 lead before winning for the ninth time in 11 games, 4-2 at Carolina. Dmitry Orlov provided a power-play goal that snapped a two-all deadlock with 2:55 remaining. John Carlson sealed it with an empty-netter.
Alex Ovechkin also scored and Ilya Samsonov stopped 30 shots for Washington. Ovechkin already has 19 goals this season.
The Caps are the first team to reach 33 points this season, bolstered by a 7-2-2 road record. The Hurricanes were home following a 4-1-1 road trip.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nino Niederreiter (NEE’-dur-eye-tur) scored in the third period for the Hurricanes.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— The Wild doubled up the Lightning, 4-2 as Ryan Hartman broke a 2-all tie midway through the third period. Hartman scored for the third straight game and has goals in five of the last six games to give him 12 on the season.
— The Bruins picked up a 3-2 win over the Canucks as Brad Marchand scored the tying goal on a power play in the third period and set-up David Pastrnak’s go-ahead score. Linus Ullmark stopped 36 shots in Boston’s fifth win in seven games.
— Andreas Johnsson had two goals and two assists in leading the Devils to a 5-2 victory over the Flyers. Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists to help New Jersey deal Philadelphia its sixth loss in a row.
— The Maple Leafs rolled to a 5-1 win at Anaheim as Michael Bunting, Alexander Kerfoot and William Nylander each had a goal and an assist. Auston Matthews scored for the third consecutive game and Toronto tied a team record with its seventh straight road win.
— Timo Meier scored on a deflection and added an empty-net goal in the Sharks’ 2-0 blanking of the Blackhawks. James Reimer handled 29 shots in his 42nd career shutout.
Canadiens fire their GM
UNDATED (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens have fired general manager Marc Bergevin and assistant GM Trevor Timmons amid on-ice struggles just months after advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. Bergevin was in his 10th season as the team’s GM.
Jeff Gorton will serve as executive vice president of hockey operations as the team searches for a new general manager. Gorton was let go as the Rangers’ GM last summer.
Montreal has a 6-15-2 record this season and is ahead of only the Islanders and Senators in the Eastern Conference standings.
In other NHL news:
— The Sharks have placed forward Evander Kane on waivers and plan to send him to the AHL if he isn’t claimed by another team. Kane was eligible to return to play Tuesday against New Jersey after serving a 21-game suspension for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.
