Bruins shut out Capitals to end 14-game skid vs. Washington

David Krejci scored, Tuukka Rask made 24 saves and the Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals 1-0 Sunday to snap a 14-game losing streak against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Boston beat Washington for the first time since March 29, 2014, and its 14 consecutive victories against Arizona are now the longest active winning streak against one opponent in the NHL. The Bruins snapped their three-game skid and handed the Capitals their eighth loss in nine games.

Outscored 45-21 during their 14-game run of futility, the Bruins dominated the Capitals in almost all facets of the game and would have blown them out if not for the play of goaltender Braden Holtby, who made 37 saves. Holtby was helpless to stop Krejci's shot on a one-timer after a tic-tac-toe puck movement and a cross-ice pass from Torey Krug midway through the second.

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40), of Finland, celebrates with right wing David Pastrnak (88), defenseman Kevan Miller (86), defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73), left wing Brad Marchand (63) and others after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)

Rask beat the Capitals for just the second time in 19 appearances against them, earning "TUUK!" chants from Bruins fans in attendance. His biggest stop came in the third period when he flashed the glove to snare a shot from Travis Boyd in the slot.

Rask picked up his 253rd career victory to take over first place on the Bruins' all-time list.

Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo didn't believe there was necessarily a theme or specific problem that led to such a lopsided stretch against Washington and thought his team was getting closer to breaking through. The Bruins scored first in only three of the previous 14 meetings, and getting the first goal Sunday allowed them to finally beat the Capitals.

Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) battles for the puck against Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) as Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)

In many ways, the Capitals also beat themselves with a lot of the same mental mistakes that contributed to a recent seven-game losing streak.

Fed up by those mistakes, Capitals coach Todd Reirden used ice time as a weapon to punish players. He benched Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitrij Jaskin for much of the first period after each took a penalty and Andre Burakovsky for the first few minutes of the second for a defensive-zone turnover that almost led to a goal.

Alex Ovechkin returned to the lineup after being forced to sit out Friday against Calgary for skipping All-Star Weekend. Ovechkin powered around Boston captain Zdeno Chara for a scoring chance in the first period but couldn't crack Rask. He will need to wait at least one more game to pass Sergei Fedorov for the most points by a Russian player.

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) winds up to shoot against Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Washington. (AP PhotoNick Wass)

NOTES: Capitals C Lars Eller was out with a lower-body injury that caused him to leave Friday's game against Calgary. ... D Christian Djoos began a two-game conditioning assignment with Hershey of the American Hockey League. ... Boston improved to 14-4-2 on Super Bowl Sunday, third in the NHL in such victories behind Montreal and Washington. ... Bruins center Patrice Bergeron played his 999th regular-season game.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Host former Capitals coach Barry Trotz and the Metropolitan Division-leading New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Capitals: Host Calder Trophy front-runner Elias Pettersson and the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomande is remarkably unfazed by reports he could be a 100-million-euro ($116 million) signing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The 19-year-old Diomande has made an impressive start to the Africa Cup of Nations and says he is fully focused on helping the Elephants defend their title.

“I want to win this competition, this is my biggest dream, and then after go back to my club and try to play there and (learn) everything and play in the Champions League. This is my dream,” Diomande told The Associated Press in Marrakech this week.

Diomande, who joined German team Leipzig in the summer, has been linked with Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich, Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as European champion Paris Saint-Germain.

But they are likely to meet strong resistance from Leipzig, which is healthy financially after big-money sales in recent years and has ambitions of its own after missing out on European qualification last season.

Diomande himself says he’s in no hurry to leave.

“For now, I’m happy there,” Diomande said of Leipzig. “Everyone likes me there and I’m enjoying there. I’m not looking at everything (happening) around me. I am trying to stay focused on my road. I’m trying to focus on my way. Trying to be concentrated on my club.”

Strong, with explosive pace, Diomande already has six goals and set up three more in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig. He broke his nose in a win over Werder Bremen in November and needs to wear a protective mask.

Leipzig, which is backed by energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull, signed Diomande from Spanish side Leganés, where he spent one season and made 10 La Liga appearances including his debut against Real Madrid. He joined Leganés after moving from Florida-based AS Frenzi.

“I had to work for long and I had to travel to a lot of countries for this, and today I’m making my dream true, so I’m very proud,” Diomande said of his early travels.

Including his goal in the 3-0 win over Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup last 16, he has three in eight appearances for Ivory Coast. He scored twice in World Cup qualifying and can look forward to a return to the United States for this summer’s tournament.

“I studied there, I went to USA. It’s gonna be good to be back there, to see my friends, to see the countries, and enjoy the World Cup,” he said.

But first, there’s the Africa Cup, where defending champion Ivory Coast faces seven-time champion Egypt in the quarterfinals on Saturday before a potential semifinal against Senegal on Wednesday.

“It’s going to get harder but we are ready and we’re confident," Diomande said. “We’re going to go there and try to fight, have a good spirit, a good mentality and win.”

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande is challenged by Cameroon's Junior Che Malone during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, in Marrakech, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Burkina Faso's Steeve Yago, right, challenges Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Burkina Faso's Issa Kabore, right, challenges Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)