Johannson pots a pair as Capitals beat Canucks
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Marcus Johansson scored two goals and collected an assist as the Washington Capitals defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 Saturday.
T. J. Oshie, with a goal and an assist, and Tom Wilson also scored for the Capitals (4-2-1), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Karl Alzner, who was playing in his 516th NHL game, scored into an empty net with 1:18 left.
Bo Horvat and Jannik Hansen scored for Vancouver (4-4-1). Vancouver's winless streak is now five games (0-4-1).
Capital goaltender Philipp Grubauer stopped 23 shots.
Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves for the Canucks.
Oshie made it 4-2 at 17:32 of the third. He took a pass Andre Burakovsky and took a shot that beat Markstrom high to the stick side.
The Capitals led 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Johansson scored his second goal of game at 8:58 of the second period on a power play. T. J. Oshie took a shot from the slot that hit the post behind Markstrom. Johansson reached into the crease and slapped the loose puck into the net.
It was Washington's third power-play goal of the year and first in seven attempts over four games.
The Canucks cut the lead to one at 17:17 of the middle period. Sven Baertschi took a shot from a sharp angle that hit the far post. Horvat tucked it home for his fourth of the season.
Washington led 2-1 after a first period that saw the teams score three goals in the final two minutes.
Johansson put Washington on the score sheet at 17:57. Matt Niskanen took a shot from along boards. Johansson cruised past the Canucks net and tipped the puck under Markstrom's glove.
The Capitals went ahead 2-0 just 15 seconds later. Evgeny Kuznetsov, working behind the Vancouver net, tossed a puck out front that Wilson blasted past Markstrom.
Vancouver cut into the lead at 19:54. Erik Gudbranson fired a shot from the point that Grubauer stopped. The rebound went to Hansen who put a shot over the goalie's pad for his second goal of the year.
It was just the second time this year the Canucks scored a first-period goal and the first on home ice. It also was Vancouver's first goal after back-to-back shutout losses.
NOTES: Vancoucer started RW Jannik Hansen on the top line with C Henrik Sedin and LW Daniel Sedin. RW Loui Eriksson played with C Brandon Sutter and RW Markus Granlund. ... Canucks C Brendan Gaunce dressed after leaving Friday's 2-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers with an injury. ... Vancouver C Jayson Megna will be out 10 to 14 days with a shoulder injury. RW Alex Burrows (neck) and RW Derek Dorsett (shoulder) skated with the team and could return next week. ... Canucks LW Michael Zalewski, called up from Utica of the AHL, dressed. ... Washington reunited LW Alex Ovechkin and C Nicklas Backstrom on the top line with RW Justin Williams. LW Andre Burakovsky moved to the third line. C Evgeny Kuznetsov dropped to the second line with LW Marcus Johansson and RW Tom Wilson. ... Capitals LW Daniel Winnik was a healthy scratch after scoring two goals in six games.