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Alex Ovechkin’s hat trick propels Capitals past Devils

WASHINGTON — When Alex Ovechkin took an errant stick to the face that made him bleed, his Washington Capitals teammates knew it wouldn’t be good for the New Jersey Devils.

A fired-up Ovechkin came back from the bloody mouth to record his 25th career hat trick and lead the Capitals past the Devils 5-2 on Thursday night. Ovechkin knew New Jersey’s Miles Wood didn’t mean to high-stick him and the referees didn’t see it, but that didn’t stop him from exacting some revenge with his second consecutive multigoal game.

“He always plays better when he’s a little (angry), so there you go,” Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom said.