BOSTON (AP) — T.J. Oshie scored his 299th career goal, Charlie Lindgren stopped 18 shots for his third shutout of the season and the Washington Capitals snapped a six-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 57th career empty-net goal with 27 seconds remaining to pass Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
Dylan Strome also scored for the Capitals, who won for the first time since beating St. Louis 5-2 on Jan. 18.
“Our most complete game of the year, hands down, start to finish. In all the different areas we needed to be dialed in, we were,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “Our structure. We were so connected in everything we did in all three zones, it was impressive from our group today.”
Lindgren wasn’t tested much as the Capitals dominated the first two periods, outshooting the Bruins 23-7 through the first 40 minutes and finishing with a 28-18 shot advantage.
“This win tonight, this shutout, all the credit in the world goes to the guys in front of me,” Lindgren said. “I thought the effort right from the drop of the puck start to finish was incredible. If we play that way, we’re a playoff hockey team. There’s no doubt about it.”
Jeremy Swayman stopped 25 shots for the Bruins, who lost for the third time in their last four home games.
Boston fans booed at the end of the second period as the Bruins made their way to the locker room, down 1-0 after being outplayed through two periods. The boos continued in the third and got louder when Strome’s 20th goal of the season 3:24 into the period put Washington up 2-0.
“They can cheer us if they like what they see. They can boo if they don’t,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said. “So that’s up to them. Obviously we know we have a very passionate sports city and very passionate fans and they expect us to win every game. It’s not going to happen, but they’ve got to see the effort and obviously they didn’t like it tonight.”
Lindgren stopped Jake DeBrusk with a glove save from just outside the net early in a power-play opportunity for Boston with about seven minutes remaining. With Boston pushing for a goal, Washington’s Connor McMichael got free for a short-handed breakaway but couldn’t beat Swayman.
“Swayman made a few huge saves and we just couldn’t break through,” Carbery said. “That’s where we need to play so mentally disciplined with everything that we do and just believe it will come. We did a phenomenal job…