Ovechkin scores twice, sparks Capitals to win against Rangers

WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkin scored two first-period goals in the Washington Capitals’ 5-3 win against the New York Rangers at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.

Ovechkin has 857 goals and is 38 from passing Wayne Gretzky (894) for the most in NHL history. He had two goals this season entering the game.

“I thought he was fantastic tonight,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “I thought he was skating. I thought he had the puck. I thought he made good decisions with it. He should be real confident after his performance tonight.”

Aliaksei Protas had a goal and two assists, and Dylan Strome and Rasmus Sandin each had two assists for the Capitals (6-2-0). Logan Thompson made 16 saves.

“Big test for our team,” Protas said. “It’s a fun game to play when you have to step up and show your best and I think that’s what our team did today. Had an outstanding game and I think we deserved that win. Another statement game for us.”

Igor Shesterkin made 41 saves, including 16 in the first period, for the Rangers (6-2-1), who had won their first four road games to tie a team record set in 1931-32.

“Their first period had much more pop in it than ours did,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said. “Everywhere from face-off battles, defensive-zone coverage to their offensive-zone play, we were chasing the game. Didn’t get much better to be honest with you for the second and third. There were spurts, but not enough.”

Ovechkin gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 3:23, scoring on a wrist shot from the left face-off circle off a pass from Strome.

Will Cuylle tied it 1-1 at 4:21 when he scored off a backhand feed from Kaapo Kakko on the rush.

Ovechkin put Washington in front 2-1 at 5:10. He got behind the defense following a failed clearance by New York and knocked in a backhand pass across the low slot from linemate Protas.

“Yeah, first couple games we just play out there and try to find the right thing and right now it's kind of clicking,” Ovechkin said of his line. “You can see [Strome] playing unbelievable, win the face-off, feeling the puck and when you have two guys when they feel the puck, it's very important for you to just try to get open and find the shot.”

Connor McMichael increased the lead to 3-1 at 8:58 when he deflected Taylor Raddysh’s shot past Shesterkin.

"We didn't come out of the gates as hard as we want to,” Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck said. “They took it to us in the first period, so any time you get out to a start like that, it's tough to dig yourself out of that hole."

Chris Kreider pulled the Rangers within 3-2 on the power play at 30 seconds of the second period. He scored when Mika Zibanejad’s shot deflected in off his skate at the right post.

Protas pushed the lead to 4-2 at 4:30, deflecting Sandin’s pass in front of the crease.

Filip Chytil cut it to 4-3 14 seconds later when he worked a give-and-go with Victor Mancini and deflected the return feed past Thompson at 4:44.

Nic Dowd scored into an empty net with 36 seconds remaining in the third period for the 5-3 final.

“Sometimes it is like that,” Chytil said. “They also played a good game today. They had more shots than us. They were more aggressive. I think they win more battles than us. That was a tough game for us.”

NOTES: The teams were facing off for the first time since the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, when New York swept Washington in four games. … Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun left the game early in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no update. … Ovechkin (540) passed Jaromir Jagr (538) for the third-most even-strength goals in NHL history. … Rangers forward Artemi Panarin had his season-opening eight-game point streak end.