ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Connor McMichael each scored two goals Saturday night, sparking the Capitals to an 8-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Ovechkin has scored 863 goals and is just 31 goals behind Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record 894. Ovechkin has scored goals in six of his last seven games. It also marked the 175th multigoal game of Ovechkin’s 20-year, trailing only Gretzky (189).
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St. Louis Blues' Zack Bolduc is unable to score past Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Scott Perunovich (48) skates past Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Pierre-Olivier Joseph (77) handles the puck as Washington Capitals' Brandon Duhaime (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael (24) handles the puck as St. Louis Blues' Scott Perunovich (48) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Alexey Toropchenko (13) and Washington Capitals' John Carlson battle for a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) and St. Louis Blues' Matthew Kessel battle for a loose puck along the boards during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk (72) shoots past Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Rasmus Sandin, right, celebrates after scoring as St. Louis Blues' Pierre-Olivier Joseph skates in the background during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Brandon Saad (20) controls the puck as Blues' Dylan Holloway (81) and Washington Capitals' Rasmus Sandin (38) watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, center, is congratulated by teammates Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson (43) after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jakob Chychrun, Rasmus Sandin, Michael Sgarbossa and Brandon Duhaime also scored for Washington.
Goaltender Logan Thompson, acquired in an offseason trade with Vegas, is a perfect 7-0-0 on the season. He recorded 24 saves.
Scott Perunovich scored the lone St. Louis goal. Jordan Binnington faced 27 shots for the Blues.
Capitals: McMichael has points in three consecutive games and six of his last seven outings overall. McMichael scored 59 seconds into the game and added a power-play in the third period.
Blues: Perunovich scored his first career goal on a wrist shot from the slot at 7:07. It was his first goal in 79 games.
In the second period, St. Louis outshot Washington 11-4 but was outscored 2-0. Ovechkin scored his ninth goal of the season at 7:42. Washington then went up 3-1 when Chychrun scored from the top of the slot at 10:53.
The Blues power play woes continued. St. Louis went 0 for 3 in the game. They are 0 for 13 in their last five games on the power play. The Blues have been on the power play 37 times in 15 games and have scored just four times.
The Blues end a five-game homestand Tuesday against Boston. The Capitals will host the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
St. Louis Blues' Zack Bolduc is unable to score past Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Scott Perunovich (48) skates past Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Pierre-Olivier Joseph (77) handles the puck as Washington Capitals' Brandon Duhaime (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael (24) handles the puck as St. Louis Blues' Scott Perunovich (48) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Alexey Toropchenko (13) and Washington Capitals' John Carlson battle for a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) and St. Louis Blues' Matthew Kessel battle for a loose puck along the boards during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk (72) shoots past Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Rasmus Sandin, right, celebrates after scoring as St. Louis Blues' Pierre-Olivier Joseph skates in the background during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Blues' Brandon Saad (20) controls the puck as Blues' Dylan Holloway (81) and Washington Capitals' Rasmus Sandin (38) watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, center, is congratulated by teammates Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson (43) after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devin Booker scored 31 points and Bradley Beal added 24 to help the Phoenix Suns open NBA Cup pool play with a 120-112 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
Grayson Allen chipped in 15 points for the Suns. Booker, Beal and Allen combined to make 13 3-pointers. Mason Plumlee finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds while starting in place of injured center Jusuf Nurkic.
John Collins led the Jazz with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Filipowski added 18 points off the bench and Lauri Markkanen chipped in 17. Jordan Clarkson finished with 16 points and a team-high eight assists.
Utah trailed by double digits much of the game but cut the deficit to 89-83 on Filipowski’s dunk with 10:18 left. Beal countered with consecutive baskets to keep the Jazz from drawing closer. Royce O’Neale and Booker followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to extend Phoenix’s lead to 110-98 with 3:58 remaining.
Suns: Explosive and efficient offense helped Phoenix squash multiple would-be rallies. The Suns were proficient in transition, scoring 16 fast-break points, and also knocked down 18 3-pointers.
Jazz: Utah flexed its muscle around the basket, outscoring the Suns 58-34 in the paint.
After the Jazz pulled within five on back-to-back baskets from Markkanen and Filipowski, an unforced defensive error ignited the Suns. Markkanen accidentally tipped the ball into the Phoenix basket while going for a rebound. It touched off a 12-0 run that put the Suns up 49-32 midway through the second quarter.
Phoenix went 9 of 17 from 3-point range in the first half while shooting 58.5% from the field overall.
The Suns visit Sacramento on Wednesday for their second game in four days against the Kings while the Jazz host Dallas on Thursday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh, left, and Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) battle for a loose ball during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz forward John Collins goes to the basket as Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, center, Mason Plumlee (22) looks on during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (00) blocks the shot from Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, center, drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns' Ryan Dunn (0) and Devin Booker, right, defend during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) defends during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) defends during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)