Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0 Monday night at Capital One Arena. Alex Ovechkin potted two first period tallies and Ilya Samsonov and the Capitals defense clamped down in the remaining two periods for the 2-0 win. The win improves the Capitals record to 31-11-5 (67 points) on the season.

GAME STATS

• NHL box score
• Natural Stat Trick
• Money Puck
• Game Stat Card

STARTERS
Ilya Samsonov (12-2-0-1, 2.24 GAA, .921 sv%) started between the pipes for Washington. Petr Mrazek (17-10-0-2, 2.64 GAA, .905 sv%) got the start in goal for visiting Carolina. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

#Caps‘ lines vs. CAR:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 77-Oshie
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 14-Panik
28-Leipsic, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway

6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
34-Siegenthaler, 33-Gudas

Samsonov vs. Mrazek. #CapsCanes

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) January 13, 2020

Scratches: Travis Boyd. (Christian Djoos was re-assigned to Hershey on Saturday)

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals would open the scoring with a goal from Alex Ovechkin (27) at 11:58 of the first frame. The goal was Ovechkin’s 685th career NHL goal, which passes Teemu Selanne for 11th on the all time goals list. Tom Wilson (18) had the lone assist.

No. 6️⃣8️⃣5️⃣ for @ovi8 pic.twitter.com/kOwS8mUKIi

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 14, 2020

The Capitals would make it 2-0 with Ovechkin’s second goal of the period, a power play tally at 17:18 of the first frame. Jakub Vrana (18) and John Carlson (43) had the helpers.

Ovi wanted No. 686 tonight too 😀 pic.twitter.com/B4IC5fO1O1

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 14, 2020

The period would expire with the Capitals leading 2-0. Washington led in shots on goal 14-6 and led in shot attempts 22-11. Washington was 1 for 4 and Carolina 0 for 0 on the power play.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals and ‘Canes battled to a scoreless draw in the middle frame. Carolina led in shots on goal 10-5. Carolina was 0 for 3 and the Capitals 1 for 4 on the power play after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals were the benefactors of a 5-0n-3 power play midway through the final frame, but were unable to find the back of the net.

The Capitals would hold on for a 2-0 win.

The Capitals are back in action on Thursday when they host the New Jersey Devils at Capital One arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 pm.

SHAVINGS

• The game was Tom Wilson’s 500th career NHL game.
• Capitals led in shot attempts 44-29.
• Alex Ovechkin is now just 14 goals shy of becoming the eighth member of the NHL’s elite 700-goal club. Only three Hall of Famers stand in his way: Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Mark Messier.
• Ovechkin’s 139 career multi-goal games are tied with Marcel Dionne for the fifth-most in NHL history.
• Ilya Samsonov recorded his first career NHL shutout.
• John Carlson was credited with an assist on the Capitals’ second goal, his 43rd assist of the season, which leads all defensemen.

SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT

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