Alex Ovechkin #8 and Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals celebrates goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during game action at the Air Canada Centre.

Photograph by: Abelimages, GettY Images

TORONTO — One was sort of expected. The other was not.

Alex Ovechkin scored his first hat trick of the season in a 4-1 win Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the story of the night belonged to Washington Capitals rookie goaltender Braden Holtby, who stopped 30 shots for his fourth career victory.

The three-goal output was just what Ovechkin needed. Heading into Saturday’s game, the two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner had scored just once in his last seven games and was on pace for 27 goals this season — the lowest of his NHL career.

It turns out he just needed to play in Toronto.

more:http://www.montrealgazette.com/Ovechkin+trick+lifts+Caps+past+Leafs/4151137/story.html#ixzz1C0I5alXD