WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin netted his 872nd career goal, bringing him just 23 tallies shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s iconic NHL record. The Washington Capitals triumphed over the struggling New York Rangers with a score of 7-4 on Saturday.
Since returning from a broken left leg that sidelined him for 16 games, the 39-year-old Ovechkin has made a notable impact, scoring four times in five games. This season, he has already accumulated 19 goals and is on track to eclipse Gretzky’s record of 894 goals by spring.
In addition to Ovechkin’s contributions, teammates Dylan Strome, Lars Eller, Andrew Mangiapane, Connor McMichael, and Aliaksei Protas also found the back of the net. Goalie Jonathan Quick struggled in the crease for the Rangers, remaining stuck at 399 career wins after allowing six goals on just 27 shots. Tom Wilson capped off the Capitals’ scoring with an empty-net goal, while Logan Thompson made 28 saves, even after a misplay that led to a goal by Chris Kreider.
Sam Carrick also scored, taking advantage of a turnover by Ovechkin, and Filip Chytil alongside Mika Zibanejad both tallied third-period goals, inching the Rangers closer with a final score of 5-4 before Protas responded to regain a two-goal lead.
Key takeaways from the match highlighted the Rangers’ inconsistency; despite a brief resurgence that saw them beat Boston, they returned to their erratic performance against Washington. With the Rangers now having lost 16 of their last 21 games, the future of coach Peter Laviolette appears uncertain, as many key players continue to underperform.
On the other hand, while the Capitals did not execute their best game and seemed to be experiencing a midseason slump, they managed to continue their winning streak.
One pivotal moment came less than a minute after Zibanejad’s goal brought the Rangers closer, when Protas increased the lead once more after his shot ricocheted off the post and into the net.
Statistically, the Capitals showcased power-play efficiency, successfully scoring two power-play goals and totaling seven in their last seven games.
Looking ahead, the Rangers are set to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, while the Capitals will take on the Buffalo Sabres the following evening.
