NEW YORK — In an electrifying match on Sunday night, the New York Islanders outplayed the Washington Capitals, securing a 4-1 victory. Despite the defeat, Alex Ovechkin achieved a monumental feat by scoring his 895th career goal, passing Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. The game, held at UBS Arena, witnessed enthusiastic cheers from both Islanders and Capitals fans when Ovechkin’s landmark goal was recorded.
Islanders’ Marc Gatcomb was a standout performer, scoring twice, while Bo Horvat and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each contributed a goal. Kyle MacLean boosted the offense with two assists, helping the Islanders bounce back strong with a second consecutive win following a previous six-game losing streak. Ilya Sorokin was formidable in the net, executing 28 crucial saves.
Conversely, Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren had a challenging night, making 18 saves. Washington, leading the Eastern Conference, has faced setbacks with their fifth loss in the last seven games, maintaining a 2-4-1 record during this stretch.
Ovechkin managed to narrow the gap to 2-1 in the second period with a powerful one-timer about seven and a half minutes into the period. The goal, set up by a pass from Tom Wilson, sent a wave of excitement through the arena, with teammates as well as fans celebrating his record-breaking moment.
However, Gatcomb reinforced the Islanders’ advantage with his second goal, extending the lead to 3-1 with 9:34 left in the second period. Pageau clinched the victory in the third period with a goal awarded after a video review confirmed Lindgren inadvertently tipped the puck over the line following an initial save.
Horvat had earlier opened the scoring 7:06 into the game, overpowering Lindgren from the right circle for his 26th goal of the season. He was instrumental in setting the pace for the Islanders’ offense early in the matchup.
The win keeps the Islanders in pursuit of the playoffs, trailing Montreal by seven points for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with six games left in their regular-season schedule.
Meanwhile, Washington remains in a tight race with Winnipeg for the Presidents’ Trophy, both teams having five games remaining. The Capitals aim to bounce back in their upcoming game at home against Carolina on Thursday night, while the Islanders set their sights on their Tuesday night game in Nashville.
Ovechkin’s historic goal marks an impressive tally against the Islanders, having scored 45 goals in 72 encounters, including four goals in six games at UBS Arena since its inauguration in 2021. Sorokin, by conceding to Ovechkin on this landmark night, joins the list as the 183rd goalie to have faced its wrath.