Pro Sports

Ovechkin locks up scoring title, Capitals beat Devils 5-3

Posted April 07, 2018 7:00 am

By STEPHEN WHYNO

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his goal with Tom Wilson, right, and Michal Kempny, third from right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game as New Jersey Devils left wing Patrick Maroon, left, skates by, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Alex Ovechkin scored twice to make it an NHL-leading 49 goals as the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 Saturday night in each team's regular-season finale.

Serenaded by chants of "We want 50," Ovechkin wrapped up his seventh Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's top goal-scorer and came one short of his eighth 50-goal season. Ovechkin scored for the third consecutive game and is the oldest player to lead the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito in 1974-75.

By beating the Devils in regulation, the Metropolitan Division-champion Capitals ensured they wouldn't face them in the first round of the playoffs. Playing without MVP front-runner Taylor Hall, New Jersey fell to the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and will open on the road against the Atlantic Division winner - either Boston or Tampa Bay.

Nicklas Backstrom, Michal Kempny and Andre Burakovsky also scored, and Braden Holtby stopped 23 of the 26 shots in his final chance to show he deserves to be Washington's Game 1 starting goaltender over Philipp Grubauer. The Capitals will face either Columbus or Philadelphia in the first round after the Flyers clinched the East's final spot Saturday afternoon.

Trade-deadline pickup Patrick Maroon had a goal and two assists, and rookie Nico Hischier and Miles Wood each scored for New Jersey. Cory Schneider, who lost his starting job to Keith Kinkaid, allowed five goals on 25 shots and failed to pick up what would have been his first victory since late December.

Ovechkin's pursuit of 50 goals injected life into a game lacking some intensity with the Capitals and Devils already in the playoffs and looking eager to get that journey under way. The Russian superstar attempted 18 shots and got eight on net.

In addition to Hall, New Jersey rested first-line winger Kyle Palmieri, top-six center Travis Zajac, No. 1 defenseman Sami Vatanen and Kinkaid with an eye toward the playoffs. The Capitals rested second-line right winger T.J. Oshie, who has been dealing with a lower-body injury. Fourth-line center Jay Beagle missed his third consecutive game with an upper-body injury.

NOTES: With the primary assist on Kempny's goal, Capitals F Shane Gersich picked up his first NHL point in his third game. ... Ovechkin, Capitals D Dmitry Orlov and John Carlson and Hischier played all 82 games this season.

UP NEXT

Devils: Open at the Bruins or Lightning in their first playoff appearance since 2012.

Capitals: Host the Blue Jackets or Flyers to start the first round.

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Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

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More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, chases the puck between New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (23) and defenseman Mirco Mueller (25) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, battles for the puck against New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider (35) and defenseman Will Butcher (8) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) falls on the ice next to New Jersey Devils defenseman Andy Greene (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny (6) celebrates his goal with left wing Shane Gersich (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

New Jersey Devils left wing Patrick Maroon (17) scuffles with Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny (6) and defenseman John Carlson (74) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), of Russia, chases the puck next to New Jersey Devils left wing Miles Wood (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) celebrates his goal against Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) hooks New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom, left, of Sweden, celebrates his goal with defenseman Michal Kempny (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

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