Capitals 4, Rangers 3 (OT)
NEW YORK -- Left winger Alex Ovechkin scored the 498th and 499th goals of his career -- including the overtime winner -- as the Washington Capitals rallied for a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers at a Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
The Capitals forced overtime when center Nicklas Backstrom tied the score with 5.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Backstrom banged home the rebound of a shot by right winger Justin Williams.
Williams also scored for the Capitals and goaltender Braden Holtby turned aside 24 shots.
Left wingers Oscar Lindberg and Viktor Stalberg and center Kevin Hayes scored third-period goals to spark the Rangers' comeback from a 2-0 deficit.
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist allowed four goals on 31 shots.
Ovechkin's game-opening goal was unassisted but Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi was key in creating it.
Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh pushed the puck behind the net during a Capitals power play. Girardi gathered the puck, with Lundqvist out of position, and pushed it in front of the net to Ovechkin, who deposited it into a gaping net to make it 1-0 with 14.8 seconds remaining in the first period.
A breakaway goal by Williams early in the second period extended the lead to 2-0. Williams caught a break, as his initial shot was stopped by Lundqvist, but the puck bounced off the inside of Lundqvist's knee and barely across the goal line at 3:56.
Lindberg pulled the Rangers to with 2-1 with his 11th goal of the season at 5:54 of the third period. Center Dominic Moore hit a cutting Lindberg with a cross-ice pass, and Lindberg hammered a one-timer that slipped under Holtby's pads.
Hayes stepped out of the penalty box, joined a rush and evened the game at 2-2 at 9:48. McDonagh put a puck toward the net that came to rest at the feet of Hayes, who banged the rebound past a fallen Holtby.
Stalberg completed the comeback with 6:49 remaining, as he deflected a shot from defenseman Keith Yandle inside the post to make it 3-2. The Capitals challenged the goal but video review showed the puck legally entered the zone and was not offside.
NOTES: Capitals C Marcus Johansson was suspended two games for a hit on Islanders D Thomas Hickey on Thursday. Despite the evidence, Capitals coach Barry Trotz felt it was a "legal hit." ... Newly signed C Mike Richards was not in the Capitals' lineup. ... Capitals C Paul Carey was recalled from the AHL on Friday and was in the lineup. ... Rangers LW Chris Kreider (hand) remained out and has not played since Jan. 2. ... Rangers D Dylan McIrath was a healthy scratch.