Nick Wass/AP/Shutterstock
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal, Garnet Hathaway was ejected for spitting during a heated brawl and the Washington Capitals beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in feisty matchup Monday night.
Hathaway was given a match penalty and thrown out for spitting on Anaheim's Erik Gudbranson in the latter stages of a fracas between the teams late in the second period. Even after the game misconduct that's automatic for spitting, Hathaway could face more discipline from the NHL office in the form of a fine or suspension.
After some off-and-on hostilities in the first 39 minutes, Washington's Brendan Leipsic incited the brawl by bulldozing Anaheim's Derek Grant just before Chandler Stephenson scored to make it 3-0 Capitals.