Ovechkin becomes set-up man in Caps' win over Oilers
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Entering Saturday's game, Alex Ovechkin had 10 goals and just two assists for the season. In his stellar career, he has almost 100 more goals than assists.
Simply put, Ovechkin is a finisher.
But, at Rogers Place, he played the unusual role of set-up man, assisting on three of the Washington Capitals' goals in a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. It marked the first time since Nov. 2, 2014, that Ovechkin the shooter had three helpers in a game.
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the game winner early in the third period and added the insurance marker.
Caps goalie Braden Holtby made 38 saves for the win.
Patrick Maroon opened the scoring for the Oilers at 12:16 of the first period. He was right in front of the net to finish off the chance after Holtby gave up a juicy rebound off a shot from Connor McDavid.
Defenseman Adam Larsson doubled the lead at 17:55, cutting in from the boards, then surprising Holtby with a wrist shot over the goalie's shoulder.
The Caps, though, struck with just 17.8 seconds left in the first. Washington came in on a four-on-one break after the Oilers overcommitted at the other end -- and Devante Smith-Pelly one-timed a pass from John Carlson for the goal.
The Caps tied it at 9:28 second. With an extra man on the ice because of a delayed penalty on the Oilers, Lars Eller got everything he could into a one-timer, ripping it past Oilers goalie Cam Talbot. That represented a bit of revenge for Eller, who was robbed of a goal in the first period when Talbot sprawled on his stomach and spread his pads out to stop the Dane's chance from close range.
The Capitals took the lead just 30 seconds into the third, as Kuznetsov tipped home a pass from Ovechkin. Kuznetsov twisted the dagger into the Oilers with 4:04 left, as he came from behind the net and banked the puck off Talbot and in.
Jay Beagle added an empty-netter with 18.8 seconds left.
NOTES: Oilers LW Jussi Jokinen played in his 900th career NHL game Saturday. ... The Oilers scratched RW Kailer Yamamoto, RW Iiro Pakarinen and D Yohann Auvitu. ...Capitals RW Brett Connolly, who underwent the NHL's concussion protocol Thursday, did not dress Saturday. Also scratched were D Aaron Ness and LW Nathan Walker. ... Caps C Nicklas Backstrom returned to the lineup after missing Thursday's loss to Vancouver due to illness. ... Oilers G Cam Talbot remains stuck at 99 career wins, while C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is still at 99 career goals.