Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) celebrates his goal with center Connor McMichael (24) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson reaches for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vancouver Canucks left wing Kiefer Sherwood (44) and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson deflects the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates with the puck past Vancouver Canucks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (73) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) celebrates his goal with center Connor McMichael (24) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) celebrates his goal with center Connor McMichael (24) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson reaches for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson reaches for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vancouver Canucks left wing Kiefer Sherwood (44) and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vancouver Canucks left wing Kiefer Sherwood (44) and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson deflects the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson deflects the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates with the puck past Vancouver Canucks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (73) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates with the puck past Vancouver Canucks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (73) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pierre-Luc Dubois scored his second goal of the game late in overtime, Logan Thompson made 30 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Wednesday night despite another sluggish performance.
Dubois ended it with 40.3 seconds left in the 3-on-3 OT, long after scoring on Lankinen with 32.7 seconds remaining in the first period. Thompson stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced in the second period alone, and Washington was lucky to avoid another loss while managing just 18 on net.
Lankinen made 16 saves and Conor Garland scored the only goal for the Canucks, who have lost three in a row and eight of their past 10 games.
Alex Ovechkin was held without a goal for back-to-back games and remains at 872. He is 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career record.
Canucks: Playing still without injured center Elias Pettersson, they were better defensively than in their last game but could not get out of this rough patch. At least No. 1 goaltender Thatcher Demko is on the verge of returning.
Capitals: Coach Spencer Carbery still has a lot to be unhappy about, but his team keeps stacking up wins and points and is atop the Eastern Conference after points in five consecutive games.
Dubois got in all alone on Lankinen and scored his seventh of the season to prevent the Capitals from playing in a shootout for the second time this week.
The teams combined for just nine shots in each of the first and third periods of a sleepy game.
Canucks play at Carolina on Friday in the third stop of a five-game trip, and Capitals host Montreal.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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