Anaheim Ducks at Washington Capitals

Carlson comes up big in Caps' 4-3 shootout win over Ducks

Tom Wilson scored his 100th career goal and Carl Hagelin added his first of the season for Washington, which improved 2-0-1 during a four-game homestand.

“We haven’t made any excuses on why we can’t be successful,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. “And so that's a credit to the players and the guys in the room. No matter who's put on a jersey for any given game, they have responded, and they've played really hard and they've played really well.”

Alex Ovechkin added his 20th and 21st assists for the Capitals, then joined Daniel Sprong in scoring during the shootout. Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves, including the only one required by either goaltender in overtime.

“Teams don't want to get beat,” Carlson said of the tight 3-on-3 session after an otherwise open game. “Which is, depending on how you look at it, a shame or a relief, I think.”

Sonny Milano had a goal and assist for Anaheim, which a day earlier saw all-time leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf go on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Vinni Lettieri and Joshn Manson also scored for the Ducks, and Trevor Zegras contributed his 14th and 15th assists in the first of a five-game, seven-day East Coast trip.

Rickard Rakell and Troy Terry contributed shootout goals for the Ducks, and John Gibson stopped 26 shots.

“There were lots of plays being made, and at a high rate of speed,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “A well-fought point. We would like both, though.”

The Ducks and Capitals combined for five second-period goals. Manson guided in the rebound of Milano’s shot off the post only nine seconds after the period-opening faceoff.

After Hagelin scored for Washington, Milano added his own rebound goal when he swatted a loose puck out of the air past Samsonov to tie it at 2 later in the period.

Lettieri’s one-time wrister off Cam Fowler’s feed easily beat Samsonov from close range. But Carlson put in his own rebound inside the final minute after Ovechkin’s steal and feed.

“Offensive game, a lot of chances both ways,” Zegras said. “I thought it was pretty fun.”

NOTES

Ducks: Manson’s goal was the 20th scored by an Anaheim defenseman this season. … C Benoit-Oliver Groulx was scratched after being recalled from AHL San Diego.

Capitals: Ovechkin has reached or surpassed 20 assists for the first time since the 2018-19 season. … Hagelin was playing with the second line, a sign of that the Capitals are still battling injuries and COVID-19-related absences. ... RW Garnet Hathaway joined C Nic Dowd and D Trevor van Riemsdyk in the league’s COVID-19 protocols before Monday’s game.

GLOVES DROPPED

Wilson tussled with rookie Simon Benoit in the second period in what was Washington's first fight of the season.

“It hasn't come across very much where we've had to get into that, but I thought Tom did a great job,” Laviolette said.

However, the game went Anaheim's way in the immediate aftermath with two goals.

“I think that Benny had the courage to square off with him certainly gave us an injection of excitement and a little bit of a lift," Eakins said.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Continue their trip at Buffalo on Tuesday.

Capitals: Host Pittsburgh on Friday.

Series tied 1-1