NHL: Washington 3, Nashville 2 (SO)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A three-goal night from Alex Ovechkin Saturday carried the Washington Capitals past Nashville 3-2 in a shootout.

Ovechkin had two goals in regulation and the only score in the shootout finale at Verizon Center, flicking a backhander past Dan Ellis in the second round.

Semyon Varlamov had 22 stops in regulation and turned aside the final two Nashville tries in the shootout after Ovechkin's score.

Shea Webber and J.P. Dumont scored for the Predators, who have lost five in a row.

Ovechkin tallied twice in the first period at 5:27 and 18:15 to give Washington a 2-0 lead. Nashville battled back with two goals late in the second period to make it 2-2.

Both teams had good chances in the third period and the overtime but could not capitalize and had to end it with the shootout.