LAS VEGAS -- Alexander Ovechkin tallied his 31st career regular-season hat trick in a 5-2 Washington Capitals victory against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.
Former Golden Knight Logan Thompson made 39 saves for the Capitals, which swept the regular season series for the first time in franchise history.
Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar scored for Vegas (11-5-2).
“We weren't on our toes early. We just weren't playing in the first period,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said “We weren't executing the best of our abilities. At the end of the first period, they didn’t have very much either. … We deserve better if we get a little puck luck and then get back to playing winning hockey, but that didn't happen.”
How The Goals Were Scored
The Capitals gained an early 1-0 advantage when Ovechkin’s shot caromed off Alex Pietrangelo’s stick at 5:59 of the first period.
Jakob Chychrun made it 2-0 at 12:26, sniping a shot past Ilya Samsonov after a Vegas giveaway.
Howden cut the lead at 19:52 when he tapped in a rebound from a shot that came off the end boards.
Jakub Vrana gave the Capitals a two-goal advantage at 2:49 of the second period, scoring high blocker side.
Then with the extra attacker on for a delayed penalty, Tomas Hertl slide the puck to Kolesar who tapped it into the net.
Ovechkin scored his second goal of the night after Jack Eichel’s attempt for a drop pass ended up on Matt Roy’s stick, springing a 2-on-1 rush that Ovechkin finished to make it 4-2.
Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal at 19:23 to secure his hat trick.
Up Next
The Golden Knights start a five-game road trip, starting Wednesday at Toronto.