Chychrun scores twice for Capitals in shutout of Maple Leafs

WASHINGTON -- Jakob Chychrun scored two goals, and Logan Thompson made 22 saves for his second shutout in his past four games in the Washington Capitals' 4-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena on Thursday.

John Carlson had a goal and two assists for the Capitals (19-11-4), who had lost three straight (0-2-1) and were outscored 10-1 in losses at Winnipeg (5-1 on Saturday) and Minnesota (5-0 on Tuesday). Justin Sourdif had two assists.

“Probably our best game of the year from the whole collective group,” Thompson said. “Honestly, a perfect game. … They have a lot of really high-talented personnel over there. Credit to the guys, that wasn’t easy.”

Dennis Hildeby made 23 saves for the Maple Leafs (15-13-5), who have lost three of four (1-2-1).

“We had power-play opportunities,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “The power play was not good. It’s got to be a lot better. And to me, they played with more passion than we did tonight. That’s what it boils down to. It looked to me like they had way more urgency in their game, more passion in their game. That’s the difference.”

The Maple Leafs were 0-for-5 on the power play while generating five shots.

Aliaksei Protas gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 13:53 of the first period. Sourdif controlled a loose puck in front, skated around Hildeby’s outstretched pad and passed in front to Protas for the tip-in.

“Sourdif, I thought, you could make a strong case for that being his best game of the year,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “I thought he was all over the puck.”

Chychrun made it 2-0 at 16:16. Connor McMichael’s shot from the left point was tipped by Ethen Frank, bounced off the end boards and out to Chychrun, who scored on a snap shot from just below the right circle.

“I thought we just made it really easy for them,” Toronto center Auston Matthews said. “The neutral zone was a highway for them to get through. We just made it so easy for them and they’re obviously a skilled team, a lot of talent, a lot of speed. I don’t think we put enough stress on them on both sides of the puck.”

Chychrun increased the lead to 3-0 at 4:02 of the third period when he skated down into the left circle and scored far side with a wrist shot from the face-off dot.

It was Chychrun’s 14th goal of the season, the most among NHL defensemen.

“He’s incredible and we talk about it all the time,” Carlson said. “The more situations we can get him the puck in space to use that shot, it’s fun to watch. When he’s got the puck on his stick it feels like it’s going in every time.”

Carlson made it 4-0 at 8:57 when he got to a loose puck along the right boards and sent a high slap shot past Hildeby.

“We wanted to play a lot better than we have been and I think guys responded well,” Carlson said. “I think that’s a big step for our group. Kind of a big moment to stop the little losing streak that we were on.”

NOTES: The Capitals have a six-game home point streak (5-0-1). … Carlson became the ninth American defenseman to record 30 career three-point games. Phil Housley is first with 75. … Matthews won eight of 11 face-offs.