Quinn Hughes scored two goals and the Vancouver Canucks held on to defeat the visiting Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday night, ending Washington’s six-game winning streak.
Filip Hronek had two assists for the Canucks, who had lost four of five and bounced back from a 6-2 drubbing at the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Kevin Lankinen made 32 saves and took a shutout into the third period. It was Hughes’ sixth career multi-goal game.
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for the Capitals, who also saw their 12-game point streak (9-0-3) end. Charlie Lindgren made 23 saves. Washington had not lost in regulation since a 4-2 loss at Detroit on Dec. 29. The Capitals were playing the middle game of their five-game road trip.
Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play.
Washington’s Alex Ovechkin did not score and remains 20 goals from passing Wayne Gretzky (894) for the NHL all-time record.
Hughes gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead at 12:23 of the first period, taking a pass at the left point, skating down across the slot and lifting a backhand shot past Lindgren on his glove side. It was the fifth game-opening goal of the season for Hughes.
Hughes made it 2-0 1:24 into the second period. Brock Boeser skated behind the Washington net and passed out to Hughes, who scored on a wrist shot while skating across the top of the zone.
Dubois pulled the Capitals within 2-1 at 12:31 of the third period. Connor McMichael’s shot from the point was blocked in front and as Lankinen tried to cover the puck, Aliaksei Protas poked it loose and Dubois knocked it in.
The Capitals had several chances during 6-on-5 play, but Dylan Strome’s shot went wide with 12 seconds remaining, and Lankinen made the save on Jakob Chychrun’s shot with five seconds left.
Washington outshot Vancouver 10-4 in the third period.
–Field Level Media
