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Ovechkin, Chimera help Caps add to wild card lead

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin

AP

Alex Ovechkin and Jason Chimera each scored twice as the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Rangers 5-2.

For the time being the Capitals trail the New York Islanders by just one point for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division. Washington also has a five-point lead on the first wild card seed in the Eastern Conference.

Marcus Johansson added an empty netter while Braden Holtby made 23 saves for the win.

One of Holtby’s bigger saves on the afternoon came midway through the first when he robbed Kevin Hayes.

With the pair of goals, Ovechkin now has a league-leading 49 on the season. He is one goal shy of his sixth career 50-goal season.

Chimera’s pair of goals snapped a 20-game drought.

Washington improves to 5-2-0 in their past seven games. New York has lost two straight in regulation for the first time since Jan. 27 and Jan. 29.

Eric Fehr and Brooks Laich each had two assists in the win.

New York, who got goals from Hayes and Derick Brassard, led 2-1 after the first period.

Cam Talbot made 26 saves in the loss.

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