Riding a six-game win streak, the Washington Capitals looked to avenge an early season loss at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets when they visited Manitoba in November. They did just that with a 3-1 victory Sunday.
Washington Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley (1) battles with Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-1.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20), of Denmark, celebrates his empty net goal with right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-1.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Capitals left wing Carl Hagelin (62), of Sweden, celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (88) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-1.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) chases after the puck past Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-1.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Winnipeg Jets left wing Mathieu Perreault (85) celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) collides into Washington Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington. Also seen is Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9), of Russia.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) collides into Washington Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington. Also seen is Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9), of Russia.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29), of Finland, shoots the puck against Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) and center Nicklas Backstrom (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, celebrates his goal with defensemen John Carlson (74) and Michal Kempny (6), of the Czech Republic, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) and Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) collide along the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) battles for the puck against Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny (6), of the Czech Republic, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) stops the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Riding a six-game win streak, the Washington Capitals looked to avenge an early season loss at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets when they visited Manitoba in November. They did just that with a 3-1 victory Sunday.
In a back-and-forth contest and potential Stanley Cup Final preview, the Capitals would capture their seventh-straight victory and seventh in a row at home with their win over Winnipeg.
Nicklas Backstrom opened the scoring early in the first with a wrist shot from the high slot, continuing the pattern of good starts for Washington. Backstrom now has nine points in his last seven games and goes in three straight. With an assist on the goal, John Carlson joined Scott Stevens and Larry Murphy among Capitals defensemen with consecutive 50 point seasons.
The Jets responded quickly, when former Cap Mathieu Perreault buried a rebound past Pheonix Copley, and both teams went to the locker room tied after one.
Winnipeg’s pressure mounted, and the Capitals quickly found themselves in penalty trouble, including a 5-on-3 situation they were able to kill.
After killing off the Jets fourth power-play of the night with five minutes left in the second period, Nic Dowd lobbed the puck over the neutral zone to spring Carl Hagelin, who just exited the penalty box, for a breakaway goal. The tally was Hagelin’s fourth of the season and his second with the Caps.
Alex Ovechkin’s first shot of the game came halfway through the third period and was almost his 1,200th career point, as he nearly scored on a one-timer from Evgeny Kuznetsov. Nikolaj Ehlers managed to deflect the puck enough so Connor Hellebuyck was able to make the save.
Later in the third, Andrew Copp and Adam Lowry, who turned the pressure up in the third and jammed at Pheonix Copley’s right pad to push the puck over the goal line, but it was waived off. Winnipeg challenged the call, but after it was reviewed by Toronto, the call on the ice of no goal stood.
Copley was able to hold off the Jets’ late rally and power play and Lars Eller iced the game with an empty-netter with 21 seconds left in regulation, the second time he’s done so in the last two games. Copley finished with 33 saves.
The Capitals will take on the rival Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night and now hold a four-point lead in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points.
