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Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals - Source: Reuters
R.J Umberger scored his second goal of the game on an overtime
powerplay as the Columbus Blue Jackets posted a 5-4 victory over
the Washington Capitals, who played much of Monday's contest
without two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin.
Ovechkin suffered what the Capitals called an upper-body injury in
the second period and did not return. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau
said Ovechkin's condition was unknown and would be assessed
daily.
The Russian winger and NHL scoring leader appeared to suffer the
injury during a shoving match with the Blue Jackets' Jason
Chimera.
Umberger scored the game winner 1:45 into the extra session after
an interference penalty against the Capitals' Brian Pothier. The
win ended a three-game losing streak by the Blue Jackets.
"The guys showed a lot of resiliency in coming back from two
different deficits," Columbus netminder Steve Mason, who had 32
saves, told reporters.
Both of Umberger's goals came on powerplays. The first, late in the
second period, provided Columbus with a 2-1 lead.
Raffi Torres also scored twice for the Blue Jackets, both in the
third.
"(He) stepped up for sure," said the Blue Jackets' Rick Nash, who
had a goal and two assists.
Torres' second tally leveled the score at 4-4 with 23 seconds
remaining in regulation.
Washington, the Southeast Division leader, had three goals in the
third, two by Brooks Laich, with Quintin Laing's wrist shot
temporarily giving the Capitals the lead at 4-3 with 3:23 to
play.
But the interference penalty by Pothier hurt the Capitals in
overtime.
"That's what happens when you take stupid penalties," Boudreau
said. "Selfish penalties, they cost you all the time."
