Kuznetsov shines, Capitals beat Canucks 4-1

WASHINGTON (AP) On the night Alex Ovechkin was honored for his 500th goal, fellow Russian forward Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals and an assist and the Washington Capitals beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 Thursday for their fifth straight victory.

Kuznetsov scored his 14th and 15th goals of the season and set up Tom Wilson on a night the Capitals got a rare goal from defenseman Karl Alzner and 29 saves from Braden Holtby.

Holtby has gotten the Capitals at least a point in each of his past 22 games and passed Don Beaupre for second in franchise history with his 129th win.

In his return from an eight-game absence with a groin strain, Vancouver's Ryan Miller allowed three goals on 39 shots.

Radim Vrbata scored for the Canucks, who were beginning a six-game Eastern Conference trip.