NHL: Washington 4, Boston 1

BOSTON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Two-time defending league MVP Alex Ovechkin had two goals and an assist Thursday in carrying Washington to a season-opening 4-1 win over Boston.

It the was the first regular-season game completed among the four that were on the NHL schedule Thursday.

Ovechkin led the NHL with 56 goals last season and he began the 2009-10 campaign by assisting on a power-play score by Brooks Laich just 2:45 into the new campaign.

The Capitals took a 2-0 lead in the second period on Ovechkin's first goal. Laich and Ovechkin scored during the opening two minutes of the third period.

Patrice Bergeron produced Boston's only goal midway through the third. Jose Theodore made 19 saves to get the win. Tim Thomas allowed four goals on 34 shots.

Washington won the Southeast Division title last year for the second straight season, but was eliminated in the conference semifinals by eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh.