~ (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s goal propelled him to 20th on the NHL goals list as well, in a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks Monday.

4-1 was also the score the last time Washington beat San Jose in regulation, back in 2009.

The Capitals capitalized as Ovechkin turned a miscue into a breakaway at 7:11 of the second. With an assist later in the game, it was his third point in two games, after a goal last match.

Washington has scored and the Sharks have given up their their third power play goal in two games.

In each of their last two games, the Capitals have scored four goals while San Jose have given up at least four goals since goalie Martin Jones came back from injury.

Both teams dominated in shots in different halves of the first period. Washington scored in their half as Devante Smith-Pelly made it 1-0 aided by John Carlson and Jay Beagle at 16:49.

Timo Meier got the Sharks back into the game helped by Justin Braun, the boards and Joe Pavelski on defense at 11:32 of the second.

At 18:00 though, Brenden Dillon was called for high-sticking.

It was a physical game of checking and it brought out frustrations as the Capitals were gunning for Sharks captain Joe Thornton after he hit T.J. Oshie with a upper body injury at 3:27 in second period and then the gloves dropped at 2:14 in the third period after the Caps had the second intermission to think about the Oshie hit.

“If someone were to grab Joe in the heat of the moment after the play because they thought a liberty was taken, then I’ve got no problem with that,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “But to go into the dressing room, think about it, come out in the first shift and do that premeditated crap is just garbage.”

Brett Connolly also scored his second goal in two games, assisted by Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov at 19:08.

With two attempts on net though, one from Ovechkin after, there was uncertainty though whether there were actual goals or just clangs off goalposts. After Connolly’s goal was confirmed, DeBoer issued an offside Coach’s Challenge, the goal was upheld and San Jose went back on the power play.

The Capitals made it 4-1 with another power play goal when Jakub Vrana was assisted by Tom Wilson and Dmitry Orlov.

Game notes: Washington’s T.J. Oshie left during the second with an upper-body injury after a hit by Joe Thornton. The Sharks’ Marcus Sorensen, who was called up due to injuries, had one shot on goal in 14 minutes of ice time. San Jose concluded with a 2-2 road trip. They play the first of a three game homestand Thursday versus the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:30pm.