Capitals defeat Flames 5-2

CALGARY, Alberta — Alex Ovechkin scored twice and became the third player in NHL history to have at least 20 goals in 19 consecutive seasons as the Washington Capitals defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2.

Robert Thomas, meanwhile, scored two power-play goals in the third period, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 for their fourth consecutive victory.

Jack Eichel, also, scored his 21st goal of the season and the Vegas Golden Knights stunned the New Jersey Devils 3-1.

Jake Neighbours also scored a power-play goal in the third for the Blues. Kevin Hayes scored in the second, and Pavel Buchnevich had three assists.

“Tough back-to-back. Two games in under 24 hours,” Thomas said. “Those games are always tough, especially when they´re kind of waiting on you. We found a way to win and that´s the important thing. I don´t think it was our best game by any means, but when you find a way to win, you can´t complain.”

St. Louis (36-29-3) is four points back of Vegas for the second wild card in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights posted a 3-1 victory over the Devils.

Troy Terry scored two goals for Anaheim (23-42-3) in its sixth consecutive loss. The Ducks were shut out in their previous two games.

“We don´t shoot the puck enough,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “We have the puck in the slot and won´t shoot it. It´s amazing to me.”

Anaheim finished a winless four-game trip to Chicago, Minnesota, Winnipeg and St. Louis.

Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues. Rookie goalie Lukas Dostal had 23 stops for the Ducks.

St. Louis came up empty on three power plays in the first period. It was a much different story in the third.

“You can´t take six penalties,” Cronin said. “We killed three yeah but 50 per cent isn´t a good percentage when you´re killing penalties. You don´t get measured by killing penalties in a period. It´s in a game, right?”

Thomas scored on a wrist shot from the slot at 1:53, giving the Blues a 2-1 lead. Neighbours helped with a screen in front of the net.

“He makes a living around the net,” Thomas said about Neighbours. “He´s hard down there, he´s open, he screens. He does a lot of little things that make all the world. I think he deserves a lot of credit for the power play´s success.”

Neighbours used his stick to deflect in a shot by Brayden Schenn from the left circle, making it 3-1 at 6:12. It was Neighbours’ 22nd goal on the season.

“It´s tough for a goalie to react when pucks are changing direction right in front of them,” Neighbours said. “I´m trying to get better at it and work at it. I´m kind of lucky. I was trying to tip it down and it went up. I´ll take the lucky bounce.”

Jonny Brodzinski scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and the New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders 5-2.

Mika Zibanejad, Will Cuylle, Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere also scored for the Rangers, who have won five of six. Igor Shesterkin finished with 25 saves.

“Our team is deep right now,” Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck said. “We are getting contributions up and down the lineup. Even when lines aren´t scoring, they are contributing in other ways. Getting the momentum, keeping the puck in the O-zone. If we can continue to do that, I like our chances against anybody.”