TORONTO — In an impressive return to the rink, Alex Ovechkin netted an empty-net goal as the Washington Capitals defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday evening.
Joining him on the scoresheet were teammates Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun, Nic Dowd, and Tom Wilson, while the Leafs found the net through John Tavares and Bobby McMann.
Ovechkin made his comeback after recovering from a fractured left fibula suffered on November 18 during a matchup against the Utah Hockey Club.
Although it took until the final moments of the game for Ovechkin to make his mark, he solidified his 869th career goal by sending the puck into an open net.
Logan Thompson, the Capitals’ goaltender, delivered a stellar performance, turning away 35 shots, while Matt Murray recorded 27 saves for the Maple Leafs.
**Takeaways**
For the Capitals, Ovechkin clocked in 14 minutes and 58 seconds of play, contributing three hits and three shots in addition to his goal. Remarkably, Washington maintained a successful record of 10-5-1 over the 16 games he was sidelined.
On the opposing side, the Maple Leafs have struggled without their star player Auston Matthews, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury. Toronto has lost three of its last four games, allowing five or more goals in each match, accumulating a total of 21 goals against during this stretch.
**Key Moment**
Thompson showcased exceptional skill in goal, particularly in an impressive save against Toronto’s William Nylander. The goaltender made a spectacular dive to deny Nylander a goal when he flashed his glove across the crease. He continued to shine in the third period when he snagged a deflected power-play shot, even while facing the opposite direction.
**Key Stat**
Pierre-Luc Dubois, who assisted on Ovechkin’s goal, extended his point streak to five games, boasting a record of one goal and five assists during this span.
**Up Next**
The Capitals are set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, while the Maple Leafs will welcome the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
