NHL: Washington 4, Toronto 1

TORONTO, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Alex Ovechkin scored three goals and Braden Holtby stopped 35 shots Saturday in the Washington Capitals' 4-1 decision over Toronto.

Ovechkin scored his 17th goal of the year in the first period to make it 1-0 Washington. His second goal 1:12 into the middle frame doubled the Capitals' lead and his third came on an empty-netter.

Matt Hendricks also scored and Nicklas Backstrom added two assists for Washington, which broke an offensive drought after going 12 straight games without scoring more than three goals.

Holtby was sorely tested in the third period when he stopped 18-of-19 Toronto shots in his sixth career NHL start.

Tim Brent scored and J.S. Giguere turned aside 27-of-30 shots for the Maple Leafs.