Nick Schmaltz scores the shootout winner to send Utah to a 5-4 victory over the Capitals

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Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz (8) scores during the shootout of an NHL hockey game against Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48), Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Utah Hockey Club center Nick Bjugstad (17) and Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, left, dodge the flying puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) and Utah Hockey Club center Kevin Stenlund (82) scuffle during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) passes the puck against Utah Hockey Club defenseman Michael Kesselring (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Utah Hockey Club left wing Lawson Crouse (67) passes the puck against Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson, center, celebrates his goal with left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) next to Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) looks for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Utah Hockey Club right wing Dylan Guenther (11) battles for the puck against Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas (21) and center Connor McMichael (24) during overtime of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

By SAMMI SILBER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nick Schmaltz scored the shootout winner, leading the Utah Hockey Club to a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Josh Doan and Dylan Guenther each had a goal and an assist, and Michael Carcone and Jack McBain also scored for Utah, which has won three of its last four games. Utah jumped out to an early lead when Doan scored just over a minute into the game and Carcone scored 32 seconds later.

Connor Ingram had nine saves on 11 shots before leaving the game due to an upper-body injury. Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 of 32 shots in relief and all three shootout attempts for Utah.

Tom Wilson scored twice, Alex Ovechkin had three assists and Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois added goals for Washington, which has lost three of its last five games. Logan Thompson, who entered the game ranked second in the NHL in save percentage, made 24 saves.

Takeaways

Utah: Dylan Guenther continues to be a force on offense, extending his point streak to four games. He has seven points in that span and reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career.

Capitals: After going three straight games without a power-play goal, Washington went 2 for 2 with a man advantage.

Key moment

After a late rally by Washington forced overtime and an eventual shootout, Nick Schmaltz deked Thompson and beat him high on the stick side.

Key stat

Alex Ovechkin didn’t inch closer to Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record, but his three assists extended his point streak to five games and moved him past Phil Esposito for 11th place on the NHL’s all-time point list.

Up next

After a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Capitals are at Pittsburgh on Feb. 22. Utah is at Los Angeles, also on Feb. 22.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL