Backstrom has five-point night as Capitals rout Penguins 7-1
WASHINGTON (AP) Nicklas Backstrom had two goals and three assists and T.J. Oshie enjoyed a four-point game as the Washington Capitals broke out of a recent funk to rout the rival Pittsburgh Penguins 7-1 on Wednesday night.
Oshie had two goals and two assists, and Alex Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov and Justin Williams also scored for the Capitals, who had lost three of four. Braden Holtby stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced, allowing only a late goal to Phil Kessel.
The Penguins lost Stanley Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray late in the first period when teammate Evgeni Malkin accidentally hit him in the head. Murray allowed two goals on 14 shots before leaving, and Marc-Andre Fleury gave up five goals on 25 shots in relief.
Ovechkin left the ice briefly in the second period holding his right wrist but returned a few minutes later and registered his first point in five games.
