Ovechkin unselfishly fed Protas for a late empty-net goal to complete the hat trick, but the big forward’s first two goals were big ones. The first one tied the game late in the first period, and the second one came 31 seconds after Anaheim tied the game at 4-4 early in the third period.

From the get-go, it looked like the Washington Capitals' tilt with the Anaheim Ducks would turn into a high-scoring, run-and-gun affair — and that's exactly what happened. Thankfully for D.C., the Capitals were on the right side of it in the end thanks to Aliaksei Protas.

Aliaksei Protas had the first hat trick of his NHL career, Alex Ovechkin and Pierre-Luc Dubois each had three points and the Washington Capitals extended their winning streak to five, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 7-4 on Tuesday night.

The Ducks got their third straight goal from a defenseman when Mintyukov's shot from just below the blue line went off Thompson's glove and into the net to tie it 3-3 at 4:26 of the third period, but the Capitals moved back ahead 31 seconds later when Protas scored from in front of the crease for a 4-3 lead at 4:57.