NHL

Ovechkin scores 2 as Caps win

WASHINGTON - Alexander Ovechkin reached an early milestone Sunday with a two-goal performance. What made it even better was it came in a Capitals win.

Ovechkin, the top pick in the 2004 draft, scored the 10th goal of his young career, both on power plays, to lead the Capitals to a 5-4 win Sunday over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ovechkin leads all rookies in goals scored, and he has 15 points in 14 games this season. It was his fourth two-goal game of the season.

"When I have a chance to shoot, I like to shoot it," Ovechkin said. "I love scoring goals. But I'm trying to help the team win games. If we win and I score, I'm really happy."

Matt Pettinger had a short-handed goal in the first period. Bryan Muir finished with a goal and an assist, and Brian Willsie scored his first goal in 11 games for the Capitals.

Washington scored four of its five goals on special teams, including three on power plays. In the previous nine games, the Capitals had just one power-play goal.

Olaf Kolzig had 25 saves for the Capitals. Toronto's Mikael Tellqvist, making his fourth appearance of the season, made 28 saves.

RED WINGS 4, BLUES 1: Tomas Holmstrom scored two goals and added an assist, and Detroit stayed perfect in seven road games, during which it has outscored opponents 31-10. St. Louis, meanwhile, has dropped eight straight. Brendan Shanahan and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for Detroit, and former Blues goalie Chris Osgood made 26 saves. Mike Sillinger scored St. Louis' only goal.

BLACKHAWKS 2, COYOTES 1 (OT): Rookie Brent Seabrook's goal with 38.3 seconds left in overtime lifted host Chicago. Former Lightning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 28 shots for the Blackhawks, who had lost five of six. With the Coyotes ahead 1-0 just under three minutes into the third period, Chicago tied it on a power play when Rene Bourque knocked in a rebound for his third goal.

WILD 4, MIGHTY DUCKS 3 (SO): Mikko Koivu scored his first NHL goal, Stephane Veilleux recorded his first of the season and Randy Robitaille netted the winner in a shootout for visiting Minnesota.

BLACKHAWKS: Center Tuomo Ruutu is expected to miss 3-12 weeks because of a back injury. He has a goal and an assist in seven games.

BLACKHAWKS-BRUINS TRADE: Chicago acquired forward Andy Hilbert from Boston for a fifth-round choice in the 2006 draft. In 38 career games, Hilbert has three goals and three assists. He is an unrestricted free agent and hasn't played this season.

LEAFS-STARS TRADE: Toronto traded right wing Nathan Perrott, 28, to Dallas for a conditional pick in next year's draft.

[Last modified November 7, 2005, 01:10:19]