WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin moved closer to breaking a monumental NHL record by scoring his 890th career goal. However, the milestone wasn’t enough to lift the spirits of the 39-year-old as his team, the Washington Capitals, succumbed to an 8-5 defeat against the Buffalo Sabres.
“Right now, we lost three in a row,” Ovechkin remarked. “It’s a relief that these losses happen now rather than in the playoffs, but we have to find a way to bounce back and win games.”
The Capitals’ captain found the net at 9:11 of the third period, redirecting a shot from Rasmus Sandin past Buffalo’s goaltender, James Reimer. Although Ovechkin’s effort brought Washington within two goals, it was Aliaksei Protas’ shorthanded goal early in the third that truly revitalized the team.
“When you score on the penalty kill, it really boosts morale,” Ovechkin explained. “You could see the energy on our bench. Everyone got into the game, but unfortunately, we couldn’t complete the comeback.”
Despite the loss, Ovechkin remains within reach of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record of 894 career goals. With 37 goals this season, he’s on track to reach the 40-goal mark for what would be a record-breaking 14th season, an impressive feat considering his absence from 16 games due to a broken left fibula.
“It’s an insane number,” said teammate Protas regarding Ovechkin’s goal tally. “I can’t imagine reaching that, even when playing video games… he’s chasing after something special.”
Before contributing to a three-point night in the third period, Ovechkin’s ice time was limited. Amid defensive lapses and unsuccessful offensive plays, he skated for just 7:43 minutes over the first two periods, the least of any player on the team. His game time increased to 16:22 minutes after moving to a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois.
“We were struggling to stay in the game,” head coach Spencer Carbery commented. “I wasn’t happy with our top-six again tonight. Their numbers haven’t been impressive in the past few games.”
Ovechkin’s quest to surpass Gretzky continues as the Capitals head to Boston to face the Bruins on Tuesday.