WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Justin Sourdif recorded a hat trick and two assists as the Washington Capitals defeated the Anaheim Ducks 7-4 in NHL action Monday night at Capital One Arena. Sourdif keyed a dominant offensive performance, scoring twice in the first period and completing his hat trick in the second. Alex Ovechkin added two goals and John Carlson had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who improved to 22-21. Connor McMichael contributed four assists. The Ducks, who fell to 21-21, got goals from Alex Killorn, Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba and Beckett Sennecke but could not keep pace after Washington’s three-goal second period. The teams combined for 11 goals, exceeding the pregame over/under line of 6.5.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Justin Sourdif recorded a hat trick and Alex Ovechkin added a goal and an assist as the Washington Capitals erupted for a 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in a high-scoring NHL contest Monday night at Capital One Arena. The game, which featured a combined 11 goals, saw the Capitals rebound from a recent shootout loss to the same Ducks team just a month prior. Washington improved to 22-21 on the season, while Anaheim fell to an even 21-21. Sourdif, the 23-year-old right wing from Richmond, British Columbia, was the catalyst for Washington’s offensive outburst. He opened the scoring late in the first period, capitalizing on a turnover. Just over three minutes later, he struck again, finishing a play set up by Connor McMichael to give the Capitals a 2-0 lead after the opening frame. Anaheim’s Chris Kreider cut the deficit in half early in the first period, but Washington responded with authority in the second. Ryan Leonard made it 3-1 midway through the period before Sourdif completed his hat trick with a tip-in goal at the 14:30 mark, sending hats flying onto the ice. Ovechkin then netted his 16th of the season less than three minutes later, extending the lead to 5-1 and chasing Ducks starting goaltender Petr Mrazek. The Ducks showed resilience, scoring twice before the second intermission to claw back into the game. Alex Killorn and Jacob Trouba found the net against Washington’s Charlie Lindgren, making it a 5-3 contest heading into the third. Any momentum for Anaheim was quickly extinguished in the final period. Washington defenseman John Carlson restored a three-goal cushion with a wrist shot midway through the frame. Ovechkin then sealed the victory with his second of the night and 17th of the season, a wrist shot assisted by Sourdif, with just under three minutes remaining. Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke added a late goal for the Ducks, but it served only as a consolation. The most pivotal segment of the game was Washington’s dominant second period, where they scored three times in a span of 6 minutes and 22 seconds to transform a 2-1 lead into a commanding 5-1 advantage. This surge, highlighted by Sourdif’s hat-trick goal and Ovechkin’s blistering wrist shot, broke the game open and provided a cushion that Anaheim could not overcome despite their later push. Lindgren earned the win in net for Washington with 44 saves on 48 shots, weathering several Anaheim flurries. Mrazek took the loss for Anaheim, allowing five goals on 32 shots before being relieved by Lukas Dostal to start the third period. The game was physical, featuring two fighting majors. Anaheim’s Jacob Trouba and Washington’s Brandon Duhaime dropped the gloves in the first period, while the Ducks’ Ross Johnston and the Capitals’ Dylan McIlrath fought in the second. Washington’s victory avenged a 4-3 shootout loss in Anaheim on Dec. 5. The Capitals’ offense, which had been held to three goals or fewer in four of their previous five games, found its rhythm against a Ducks team that has now lost three straight and four of its last five. The Capitals will look to build on the win when they host the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. The Ducks, concluding a brief road trip, face a quick turnaround as they travel to Philadelphia to meet the Flyers on Tuesday night.

Preview: Ducks, Capitals Meet in Battle of .500 Teams WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Two teams looking to halt late-December slides will meet when the Anaheim Ducks visit the Washington Capitals on Monday night at Capital One Arena. Both clubs enter with identical 21-20 records, mirroring each other’s struggles to find consistency. The matchup is a quick turnaround from their last meeting on Dec. 5, a 4-3 shootout victory for the Ducks in Anaheim. The Ducks have lost five straight (0-4-1) following a 5-2 home loss to Minnesota on Friday. Their offense has sputtered, scoring two or fewer goals in regulation in four of those defeats. Center Leo Carlsson, a key figure for Anaheim, has been held without a point in four consecutive games, though he registered 12 shots on goal in the three games prior to the Minnesota loss. Washington has also stumbled, going 2-5-1 in its last eight games after a 4-3 loss in Ottawa on Thursday. The Capitals’ attack has been similarly inconsistent, shut out twice in that span but also erupting for six goals in a win over the New York Rangers on New Year’s Eve. A focal point will be the contrasting styles of each team’s player to watch. For the Ducks, the skill of the 20-year-old Carlsson will be tested. For the Capitals, veteran power forward Tom Wilson brings a physical edge and a hot hand, with five goals and four assists in his last six games, including a goal and an assist against Ottawa. Anaheim’s recent road trip was unkind, with a 1-4-0 record away from home from Dec. 11-16. Washington has found some footing at Capital One Arena lately, however, going 3-2-0 in its last five home contests. The game kicks off a critical three-game road trip for the Ducks, who visit Philadelphia and Carolina next. The Capitals begin a three-game homestand before embarking on a lengthy six-game road trip later this month. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.