Ryan Leonard scores highlight-reel goal, leads the Capitals over the Devils 4-2

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ryan Leonard scored a highlight-reel goal and the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Ilya Protas, Dylan Strome and Boone Jenner also scored and Vincent Desharnais had two assists for the Capitals, who have won back-to-back games.

Arsenal Gritsyuk and Timo Meier scored for the Devils, who dropped to 4-4-0 to open the season.

The Devils got on the board first roughly halfway through the first period, when Gritsyuk beat Logan Thompson through traffic at the end of New Jersey’s second power play of the period.

With 3:18 to go in the first, though, Leonard would even the score and change the momentum with his spectacular goal. In the final seconds of Washington’s power play, Leonard took the puck up ice himself, going coast to coast before beating Luke Hughes, cutting to the inside and deking out Jake Allen for his third goal of the season.

From there, the Capitals took over the game, starting with back-to-back goals in a span of 4 minutes, 46 seconds to open the second period. First, Protas buried a cross-zone feed from Alex Ovechkin to give Washington the 2-1 lead. Then, Strome finished off a passing play from Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou to put Washington up by two.

Later in the frame, Jenner tucked in a point drive that bounced to the front for his fourth goal in five games, extending the lead to 4-1 going into the third.

New Jersey pushed hard in the third and pulled within two late when Meier scored with 18.4 seconds to go in regulation, but otherwise, Thompson shut them down with 29 saves on 31 shots to secure the win for the Capitals.

Allen had 21 saves in the loss for New Jersey.

Capitals: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Devils: Return home to face the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Washington Capitals defenseman Justin Holl (4) stick checks New Jersey Devils center Evan Rodrigues (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against New Jersey Devils, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Washington Capitals' Jordan Kyrou (25), Dylan Strome (17) and Alex Tuch (89) celebrate after Strome scored a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against New Jersey Devils, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Washington Capitals left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) and New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) battle for the puck in the corner during the first period of an NHL hockey game against New Jersey Devils, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Washington Capitals players celebrate after Ryan Howard (3) scored a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against New Jersey Devils, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against New Jersey Devils, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Turkey on Thursday for a two-day visit seeking to forge a new partnership as Canada looks to reduce its dependence on the United States.

Carney is making the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to Turkey, although he traveled to Ankara in July to attend the NATO summit. He is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials before traveling to Istanbul for talks with Turkish business groups as the two countries seek to deepen trade ties.

The Canadian prime minister has sought to diversify partnerships and reduce reliance on the United States amid an escalating trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump, marked by U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, retaliatory measures by Canada and statements questioning Canadian sovereignty.

In an interview with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, Canada’s Ambassador to Turkey, Marcel Lebleu, said this week that the visit’s main purpose was to “launch a strategic partnership through a joint declaration by the two leaders.”

Talks would focus on cooperation in energy, nuclear plants, sustainable mining and the defense industry.

The two countries would also hold negotiations on a free trade agreement, he said.

Turkey is looking to build a second nuclear power plant on the Black Sea coast, in addition to one currently being built by Russia’s Rusatom on the Mediterranean coast.

In a sign of improving ties, Canada lifted its ban on the export of weapons to Turkey in 2024. It had imposed the restrictions following Turkey’s military incursions into Syria and over Turkey’s support to Azerbaijan in its conflict against Armenia, including providing equipment that used Canadian-made parts.

A statement from Carney’s office said two-way trade between Turkey and Canada increased by 50% in the past five years.

It said that during the visit, Carney will emphasize opportunities “to expand that growing trade relationship in priority sectors, including energy, aerospace, advanced technologies, and mining and critical minerals.”

FILE - Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pose for a photo during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)