Wednesday in the NHL | Capitals defeat Flyers 4-1

Alex Ovechkin scores twice in home win

Alec Ovechkin scored twice in an empty net as the Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Wednesday night

Ovechkin now has 795 career NHL goals, good for third in NHL history. He is just six goals from equaling Gordie Howe and 99 goals from joining Wayne Gretzky at the top in this regard.

Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who concluded their six-game road trip with a .500 record (3-3).

TJ Oshie added a goal for Washington as Charlie Lindgren blocked 29 pucks.

Kevin Hayes replied for the Flyers, who have lost 13 of their last 15 games. Carter Hart stopped 23 pitches.

Strome broke the tie at 1-1 when he deflected a John Carlson shot midway through the third period.

Aaron Bracy, Associated Press

Sabers thrash Blue Jackets 9-4

Tage Thompson scored five times and the Buffalo Sabers settled the Columbus Blue Jackets 9-4 on Wednesday.

Thompson scored four times in the first period, including the last two power-play goals.

In the second period, he added a 21^e net this season.

The 25-year-old American was also an accomplice in the first goal of the game (Dylan Cozens, at 3: 21 in the first period).

Dave Andreychuk was the only other Sabers player with five goals in a game on February 6, 1986.

Rasmus Dahlin, Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch were the other scorers for the Sabers, who have won three of their last four games.

Jeff Skinner had four assists-one more than Tuch.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 20 saves.

Patrik Laine and Gustav Nyquist scored braces in a losing cause.

Starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo failed three out of nine times. Elvis Merzlkins was beaten six times on 21 shots.

The Blue Jackets have lost their last three meetings.

They were beaten at home for the sixth straight time.

The Canadian Press

Flames win 5-3 over Wild

Rasmus Andersson scored the game-winning goal with just over four minutes remaining as the Calgary Flames beat the Minnesota Wild 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Andersson added two assists for the Flames, who overcame a disastrous start to claim their third straight win.

Tyler Toffoli hit the target twice, including one in an empty net, while Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman both added a goal for the Alberta squad. Elias Lindholm had three assists.

Dan Vladar allowed two goals on the first three shots he faced, but pulled himself together to finish the game with 25 saves. He recorded a fourth victory in a row.

Kirill Kaprizov scored a goal in a seventh consecutive game and he had at least one point in a 14^e game in a row for the Wild, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

Mason Shaw and Jon Merrill also found the back of the net for the visitors. Marc-André Fleury saved 22 pucks.

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press