TORONTO (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal in his return to action as the Washington Capitals upended the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday night.
Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun, Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson also scored for the Capitals. John Tavares and Bobby McMann scored for the Leafs.
Click to Gallery
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares, second from left, scores against Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, right, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Jakob Chychrun (6) celebrates after his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) and Brandon Duhaime (22) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, left, battles with Toronto Maple Leafs' Chris Tanev, right, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) celebrates after his goal against the Washington Capitals during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann (74) scores against Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) as Capitals' Martin Fehervary (42) and Maple Leafs' Max Domi (11) collide during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) lines up for a face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) celebrates after his goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' David Kampf (64) protects the puck from Washington Capitals' Jakob Chychrun (6) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson watches the puck during second-period NHL hockey game action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson (43) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his empty-net goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington’s captain Ovechkin played his first game since he fractured his left fibula Nov. 18 in a game against the Utah Hockey Club.
Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet Saturday until firing the puck into an empty net for his 869th career goal.
Logan Thompson stopped 35 shots for the win. Matt Murray made 27 saves for Toronto.
Capitals: Ovechkin played 14 minutes, 58 seconds, recorded three hits and three shots in addition to his goal. Washington was still able to thrive without its captain. The Capitals went 10-5-1 record in 16 games while Ovechkin was injured.
Maple Leafs: Toronto has lost three of four games without Auston Matthews in the lineup, who was out with an upper-body injury. Toronto has allowed at least five goals in each of those four games, and 21 total during that span.
Thompson had a hot glove hand throughout the game. Washington’s goalie robbed Toronto forward William Nylander of a sure goal when Thompson dove across the crease to snatch a shot at a yawning cage out of mid-air. Nylander was Thompson’s victim again in the third period when a deflected power-play shot from the point was scooped by Thompson, who was facing the back of the net.
With an assist on Ovechkin's empty-net goal, Pierre-Luc Dubois extended his point streak to five games with a total of one goal and five assists.
The Capitals visit the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. The Maple Leafs host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares, second from left, scores against Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, right, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Jakob Chychrun (6) celebrates after his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) and Brandon Duhaime (22) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, left, battles with Toronto Maple Leafs' Chris Tanev, right, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) celebrates after his goal against the Washington Capitals during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann (74) scores against Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) as Capitals' Martin Fehervary (42) and Maple Leafs' Max Domi (11) collide during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) lines up for a face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) celebrates after his goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' David Kampf (64) protects the puck from Washington Capitals' Jakob Chychrun (6) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson watches the puck during second-period NHL hockey game action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson (43) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his empty-net goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
