Tonight in the NHL

Ovechkin scores in Capitals win

Alex Ovechkin scored his 742^e career goal in the National Hockey League (NHL) and Conor Sheary scored the game-winning goal with 1:22 left in the game in a 4-3 win for the Washington Capitals over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.

Garnet Hathaway added two goals to complete the winner’s score. This is a third consecutive victory for the Caps. Ilya Samsonov blocked 26 shots to add his first win since October 29.

In the Blue Jackets camp, Sean Kuraly found the back of the net twice and Gustav Nyquist was the other scorer. Joonas Korpisalo made 24 saves.

The 742^e d’Ovechkin came off a real laser from the right circle at 10:19 of the first period. This goal then created the tie 1-1. In addition to taking fourth place in NHL history alone with this goal, Ovechkin also took first place alone in the goal column this season with his 12th of the year.

Hathaway gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead in the 24th^e second of the second period. Seven minutes later, he scored his second of the game on a breakaway.

Kuraly brought the Jackets back into the game with his second goal of the game at 8:11. Then Nyquist tied everyone 22 seconds later. This is his first goal since the season opener.

Nicole Kraft, Associated Press

Auston Matthews gives the Leafs victory in overtime

Auston Matthews moved the strings at 2:32 into overtime and the Maple Toronto Leafs defeated the Calgary Flames 2-1 on Friday night.

William Nylander added a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who have won seven of their last eight outings. Jack Campbell made 30 shots.

Oliver Kylington scored the only goal for the Flames, who suffered a third straight loss. Dan Vladar turned away 35 pucks.

In overtime, Vladar stopped Matthews on a breakaway before frustrating Mitch Marner on the next opportunity. Campbell also closed the door to his opponents during an attack by the Flames.

Matthews got another chance, however, in his next appearance, and he beat Vladar between the pads to score his sixth goal of the campaign.

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares made a comeback after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Sabers surprise Oilers 3-2

Dylan Cozens scored two goals, including the win, and the Buffalo Sabers upset the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Friday night.

Cozens hit the target twice in an interval of 5:14 in the third frame, helping the Sabers end a five-game losing streak (0-4-1).

Anders Bjork also put the needle on for the Buffalo Troops, who erased a one-goal delay after Leon Draisaitl scored twice on the power play.

Dustin Tokarski turned back 33 shots for the Sabers, including two from Draisaitl with 4:45 to go in the third period. He signed a second victory in his last seven starts.

The Oilers, who lead the Pacific section, were unable to win 11 of their first 13 games of the season for the first time in their history.

Draisaitl extended his lead to the top of the NHL’s top scorers with 14 goals. Connor McDavid got an assist to take his streak to 13 with at least one point.

Stuart Skinner gave up three times on 23 shots in front of the Alberta team.

John Wawrow, The Canadian Press

Flyers beat Hurricanes 2-1

Zack MacEwen scored with 8:40 left in the third period to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night in Raleigh.

Joel Farabee tied for the Flyers early in the period. The goal must have done a lot of good for his teammates since the Flyers were shut out in their last game and couldn’t find the back of the net in the first two periods.

Meanwhile, the Flyers had just 13 shots on goal, but they exploded with 15 shots in the third period.

Carter Hart blocked 39 shots in the win. The Flyers have now won two of their last three games.

MacEwen’s goal was his first in ten games this season. Former Hurricanes Patrick Brown got an assist on the game.

Steven Lorentz scored the goal for the Hurricanes who lost for just the second time in 12 games since the start of the season. This is a first home defeat for the Canes.

Frederik Andersen made 26 saves in the loss.

Bob Sutton, Associated Press

Blackhawks win 2-1 over Coyotes

Dylan Strome broke the tie halfway in the third period and Marc-André Fleury made sure to close the door to lead the Blackhawks to a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night.

Fleury made 22 saves in the win. Alex DeBrincat scored the winners’ other goal while Patrick Kane collected two assists. This is the third straight victory for the Chicago team since Derek King took over from head coach Jeremy Colliton who was fired last week.

Andrew Ladd scored the only goal for the Coyotes and Scott Wedgewood blocked 27 shots in net for the Arizona representatives. The Coyotes (1-12-1), still haven’t won on the road this season.

Strome scored the winning goal with a receiving shot on a sharp pass from Kane at 9:26 of the third period.

The Coyotes had a great opportunity to tie the game at the end of the game with a power play in the final 86 seconds. Fleury stood in front of Phil Kessel, however, to protect the Hawks’ victory.

The locals took the lead at 5:26 in the second period during a delayed penalty. DeBrincat rushed to the net on the left side as Kane knitted through the Coyotes defense. He rounded Jay Beagle, Anton Stralman and Jakob Chychrun before passing the disc to DeBrincat who beat Wedgewood to speed by throwing on reception.

Ladd tied the game at 1:41 of the third period, beating Fleury with a wrist shot from a good distance from the net, as the goalkeeper was blinded by three players in front of him.

With two points, Kane has 11 in his last seven games.

Tim Cronin, Associated Press