Ovechkin on fire in Capitals’ rout

• WASHINGTON 10, BOSTON 2: Alex Ovechkin scored a hat trick in Washington’s six-goal first period, and he finished with five points in the Capitals’ home victory over the Bruins Monday.

His three goals give Ovechkin, right, a league-leading 52 and made him the first to reach 50 in the NHL this season.

He was credited with a fourth goal in the third period, but official scorers changed it later, giving him an assist on Brooks Laich’s power-play goal that made it 9-2.

Ovechkin’s two assists gave him 38 on the season as Washington ended Boston’s six-game winning streak.

Linemate Nicklas Backstrom added three assists in the first period and scored once in the second period. Laich and Matt Bradley scored two goals apiece, and Eric Fehr added three assists.

The 10 goals were a season high for Washington.

Newly acquired Matt Cooke got the big first period started by scoring his first goal with the Capitals 32 seconds into the game. Bradley and Laich also scored in the period.

Donald Brashear scored the other Washington goal.

Goalie Cristobal Huet earned his second victory in two starts since the Capitals got him from Montreal last week, stopping 20 shots in two periods before coming out after suffering mild back spasms.

Boston goalie Tim Thomas started and wound up being pulled twice, giving up seven goals.

• Peter Forsberg skated in his first workout with the Colorado Avalanche since re-signing last week. He looked like the Forsberg of old, but when asked about playing today against Northwest Division rival Vancouver, he hedged: "It’s a game-time decision. We’ll see tomorrow morning." The Avalanche could definitely use the Swedish forward after injuries to Marek Svatos and Ryan Smyth on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Forsberg, 34, is nursing an injured right foot but surprised nearly everyone last week by signing a deal to return to Colorado, where he won two Stanley Cups and an MVP award in nine seasons.

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