Capitals 3, Blues 2
Jason Arnott made himself welcome with his new teammates by punching in the game-winning goal to lift the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the visiting St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
Nicklas Backstrom and Scott Hannan each added goals and Alex Ovechkin recorded a pair of assists for the Capitals, who have won five of their last six games - with each of the five victories coming by a single tally.
Knotted at 2-2 in the third, Arnott, who had been acquired from the New Jersey Devils at Monday’s trade deadline, took a feed from Alexander Semin and shot from a tough angle to the right of the crease, lifting it over Ty Conklin’s right shoulder.
The Blues, who traded away five veterans during the last few weeks, jumped out on top when Alexander Steen scored his 18th goal in the first period. Hannan tied it with his first goal, a wrister from the slot, early in the second and B.J. Crombeen and Backstrom traded goals to forge the tie.
Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves for Washington, which moved within one point of Tampa Bay for first place in the Southeast Division.