WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Wilson had two goals and an assist to lead the Washington Capitals past the New York Rangers 6-3 on Wednesday.
Wilson, who earlier in the day was named a member of Canada’s Olympic roster, got into a fight with Sam Carrick in the second period for at least his second Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist and a fight — since March 3, 2025.
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Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) stops the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas (21) scores a goal past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) shoots the puck for a goal against New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) and defenseman Braden Schneider (4) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) fights New York Rangers center Sam Carrick (39) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Justin Sourdif also had two goals and Anthony Beauvillier and Aliaksei Protas each scored for the Capitals, who have won two of the last three games.
Adam Fox, making his return from long-term injured reserve, had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who have lost three straight. Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider also scored.
With the Capitals tied 1-1 and needing a spark in the second, Wilson rose to the occasion. The 31-year-old came streaking up ice and leveled Noah Laba before getting to the front of the net and roofing a feed from Connor McMichael to restore Washington’s lead as he became the first Capital to hit the 20-goal mark this season. Minutes later, he answered for Laba’s hit, fighting Carrick.
The fight, initiated by Carrick, put the Capitals on the power play. Sourdif snuck a loose puck past Jonathan Quick, who had 21 saves, to end a 16-game goal drought to make it 3-1.
Fox responded with a power-play goal of his own soon after to pull things to 3-2 going into the third.
Protas and Wilson, netting his 200th career goal, added insurance tallies late to cushion the lead.
Schneider brought New York back within two late.
Wilson assisted Sourdif on an empty-netter.
Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves for Washington.
Rangers: Visit Florida in the Winter Classic on Friday.
Capitals: Visit Ottawa on Thursday.
This story has been corrected to show that Wilson is 31 years old, not 28.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) stops the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas (21) scores a goal past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) shoots the puck for a goal against New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) and defenseman Braden Schneider (4) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) fights New York Rangers center Sam Carrick (39) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Bazoumana Touré scored in stoppage time as defending champion Ivory Coast recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Gabon 3-2 on Wednesday in the Africa Cup of Nations, which now enters the knockout stage.
Christopher Opéri crossed for Touré to head in the winner as Les Éléphants staged a dramatic comeback to finish top of Group F, just ahead of Cameroon, by virtue of scoring a goal more than the Indomitable Lions.
Opéri had also set up Evann Guessand for the equalizer in the 84th minute. Both of the late scorers were substitutes, as coach Emerse Faé was forced to make changes to counter Gabon's early dominance.
The Panthers raced ahead with goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, before Jean‑Philippe Krasso pulled one back at the end of the first half.
“We wanted this first place, and we had to work in the second half for it,” Faé said.
Five-time winner Cameroon also came from behind to beat Mozambique 2-1 in the other group game.
Both Ivory Coast and Cameroon finished with seven points each, with a goal difference of plus 2, but Ivory Coast scored five goals, compared to Cameroon’s four.
Mozambique also progressed to the last 16 as one of the four best third-place finishers.
Gabon was already eliminated after starting with two defeats.
Ivory Coast stays in Marrakech after winning the group and will next face Burkina Faso in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Cameroon was dealt a tough encounter against South Africa in Rabat on Sunday, and Mozambique will face Nigeria the next day in Fez.
In other confirmed matchups, 2021 champion Senegal will play Sudan in Tangier on Saturday before Tunisia plays Mali in Casablanca.
Host nation Morocco will face Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, and seven-time champion Egypt will play Benin in Agadir on Monday.
Also, Algeria and Congo meet in Rabat on Tuesday.
Despite a 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso in its final group game, Sudan could look forward to the knockout stage after qualifying as one of the best third-place finishers.
Both teams were already assured of advancing before their Group E match Wednesday. Sudan progressed despite the complication of playing all its qualification games away from home as the country contends with a brutal war and humanitarian crisis.
“This is good for all Sudanese,” Sudan coach James Appiah said.
Burkina Faso made a better start and the Stallions duly took the lead through Lassina Traoré in the 16th.
Sudan had a great opportunity to level when Burkinabe ’keeper Hervé Koffi bundled over Al Gozoli Nooh in the penalty area, but Nooh missed the resulting spot kick.
The Sudanese fans, who were in a majority at the Stade Mohammed V stadium, tried rallying the team. Yasir Mozamil was just wide, and Amar Abdallah missed another good chance for Sudan.
Arsène Kouassi sealed the Stallions' win with a late goal as Burkina Faso finished second in the group.
Algeria, already assured of topping the group, signed off before its last-16 meeting with Congo with a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea, which finished with three defeats.
Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza scored in the first half for Algeria.
Veteran forward Emilio Nsue – playing for the first time legally in the Africa Cup – scored a brilliant consolation for the National Thunder in the second half. The 36-year-old Nsue was the top scorer at the last edition, but FIFA in 2024 ruled he was never eligible over his 11 years playing for Equatorial Guinea. He was finally cleared to play in March this year.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast fans cheer their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast's Bazoumana Touré scores during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
