The Washington Capitals received a visit from the Chicago Blackhawks on what was a highly anticipated night at Capital One Arena. Fans witnessed Alex Ovechkin tie Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record with career tallies No. 893 and 894.
Ovechkin opened the scoring three minutes into the first period, but Tyler Bertuzzi tied things up for Chicago eleven minutes later.
Frank Nazar gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead just 31 seconds into the second period and despite Martin Fehervary answering back, Chicago re-took the lead on a Philipp Kurashev strike literally off the next faceoff.
If this were a soccer game, Chicago’s own goal would’ve evened things up, but instead a power-play tally was awarded to Dylan Strome after he fired into traffic. Ovechkin notched his record-tying goal and sent Capital One Arena into a frenzy. Rookie Ryan Leonard earned his first NHL goal on an empty-netter in the closing moments.
Capitals beat Blackhawks 5-3!
- The team honored the fifth and final “era” of the 50th anniversary season, the ALL CAPS 2018 Stanley Cup champions. Team alumni Brooks Orpik, Braden Holtby, Devante Smith-Pelly as well as TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom, currently on LTIR, were brought out onto the ice for the ceremonial puck drop.
- The first period started rough for the Caps, with Chicago clearly on the front foot for the opening minutes. The Blackhawks’ forechecking prevented the Capitals offense from getting across center ice for more than a few seconds until…
- …Ovechkin caused the Red Rockers to erupt with his 893rd career goal. He snapped a wicked shot from the right faceoff circle, ricocheting the puck off the left goal post, then Chicago goalie Spencer Knight’s back, and across the goal line. With that tally he passed Gretzky for the most 40 goal seasons in a single career (13), per the NHL.
- Wayne Gretzky himself graced Capital One Arena with his presence, adding to the palpable buzz in the crowd as Ovechkin closed in on goal No. 895.
- The start of the second period gave Caps fans deja vu. Chicago came out flying again but this time converted in the opening moments to take a 2-1 lead.
- The Capitals appeared sleepy and were puck watching for the rest of the frame. As soon as play was re-started after Fehervary’s tying tally, they were burned in the form of Philipp Kurashev’s goal to re-take the lead for Chicago.
- The last thing Caps fans wanted to see was another injury. Aliaksei Protas, who has been red hot this season scoring 30 goals for the first time in his career, left the game limping and in need of assistance in the third period.
- Oh, and Ovechkin struck again in the third period to tie Gretzky at 894 goals. No biggie.
Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history with 894
- And lost in the mix of Ovechkin’s history chase, 2023 first-round selection Ryan Leonard notched his first NHL goal on an empty netter late in the third period.
- Charlie Lindgren gave up three goals on 20 shots. That’s not exactly a confidence booster after the team lost starter Logan Thompson to an upper body injury suffered on Wednesday against Carolina.
- The team defense as a whole has been sub par of late. Allowing 26 goals in their last six games played (2-3-1 over that span) is not playoff-caliber hockey.
The Capitals will make their way to UBS Arena in Belmont, New York for a date with the New York Islanders on April 6. History could third-wheel if Ovechkin manages strike for the sixth time in five games.
