McMichael and Ovechkin score as the Capitals beat the depleted Blackhawks 5-1

CHICAGO (AP) — Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist, and the Washington Capitals snapped Chicago's four-game win streak with a 5-1 over the depleted Blackhawks on Friday night.

Alex Ovechkin, Anthony Beauvillier, Ethen Frank and Justin Sourdif also scored for Washington, which had lost three of four. John Carlson and Martin Fehervary each had two assists, and Logan Thompson made 23 saves.

Connor Bedard returned for Chicago after being sidelined by a shoulder injury, but the Blackhawks were hit hard by an illness going around the locker room. Goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom were scratched, along with forward Ilya Mikheyev and defenseman Louis Crevier.

Oliver Moore scored for Chicago, which beat Washington 3-2 in a shootout last weekend. Drew Commesso made 19 saves in his second career NHL start.

Bedard skated for more than 17 minutes. The Blackhawks went 5-6-1 while he was out.

The Capitals grabbed control with three goals in the first period. Beauvillier tipped home a great pass from Fehervary at 4:03, and a streaking McMichael slipped a shot between Commesso's legs at 15:07. Frank added his seventh of the season with 1:06 left.

Moore scored on a power play 8:48 into the second, but Sourdif made it 4-1 when he finished a goalmouth scramble at 12:38. Sourdif has six goals in his last six games and nine this season overall.

Ovechkin added his 19th goal in the third, beating Commesso through the goaltender's legs at 13:33. The 40-year-old winger has four goals in his last three games and 916 for his career. He has scored on 187 different goaltenders — increasing his NHL record.

The Capitals visit Nashville on Sunday night.

The Blackhawks are at the Predators on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehérváry (42) shoots the puck as he assists left wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) in scoring a goal on the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Washington Capitals left wing Anthony Beauvillier, right, celebrates his goal on the Chicago Blackhawks with defenseman Martin Fehérváry (42) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

CHICAGO (AP) — All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman has agreed to a $175 million, five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to two people familiar with the deal.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. The contract includes a no-trade provision allowing Bregman to block deals without his consent.

Bregman, who turns 32 in March, was back on the market for a second straight offseason. He was pursued by the Cubs before he signed a $120 million, three-year contract with Boston last February, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.

He decided to test free agency again after hitting .273 for the Red Sox with 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 114 games, his fewest since 2021. Bregman missed all of June with a quadriceps injury.

Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.

When the Gold Glove winner joined the Red Sox, they already had All-Star Rafael Devers at third base. Boston asked Devers to move to DH, and the team’s relationship with the slugger soured to the point that Devers was traded to San Francisco in June.

Boston ended up leading the major leagues in errors, but the Red Sox did return to the postseason for the first time in four years. Bregman’s OPS of .822 was his best since 2019, and he earned All-Star honors for a third time.

Chicago finished second in the NL Central last year with a 92-70 record. The Cubs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 before getting eliminated by Milwaukee in a five-game Division Series.

The Cubs used Matt Shaw at third base last season, and the rookie played stellar defense while batting .226 with 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 17 steals in 126 games. He could move into a super-utility role with Bregman’s arrival.

The addition of Bregman was the second major move by the Cubs in a matter of days. They acquired right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.

ESPN was the first to report Bregman's agreement with the Cubs.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE - Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman fields a groundout hit by Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, on Aug. 18, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)