Ovechkin lifts Capitals in overtime | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Washington • For the second time in three days, Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 39th goal late against the Detroit Red Wings. This one won't be taken away.

Ovechkin's one-timer from the left circle on a power play 2:37 into overtime gave the Capitals a 6-5 win Sunday over the Red Wings, earning a split of a home-and-home set and tightening up things even more in the bottlenecked bottom half of the Eastern Conference.

Ovechkin was originally credited with the goal that tied the score with 7 seconds left in regulation on Friday in Detroit — a game the Red Wings eventually won in a shootout. The NHL has since reviewed the play and decided it instead belongs to Joel Ward on a deflection.

Ward kept it up Sunday, getting two goals and an assist as he again benefited from the extra attention paid to Ovechkin, particularly on the power play.

In overtime, however, the power play is 4-on-3, and that left plenty of space for the Russian Olympian to drive home the game-winner after Brendan Smith was sent off for tripping.

"I was pretty much open," Ovechkin said. "Sometimes it's kind of boring when they put one guy close to you and you're basically out of the game, but Wardo and everybody do a great job."

Jets 2, Canadiens 1 • Michael Frolik scored in the third period to give Winnipeg a victory at Montreal.