Alex Ovechkin added another milestone to his legendary career, scoring his 886th career goal into an empty net to cap off the Washington Capitals’ 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. The goal moved him within nine of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record and helped the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals extend their winning streak to four games.
Ovechkin’s backhanded shot from center ice with 1:31 left sent the home crowd into a frenzy as chants of “Ovi! Ovi!” echoed throughout the arena. The goal, his 33rd of the season, also marked his 1,600th career point.
Connor McMichael netted the game-winner just minutes earlier, following a heated exchange between the teams that resulted in all 10 skaters being sent to the penalty box. Washington’s Brandon Duhaime was later given a 10-minute misconduct, while tensions between Tom Wilson and John Hayden nearly escalated into a fight.
Martin Fehervary and Dylan Strome also found the back of the net for Washington. At the same time, goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 30 saves to help the Capitals maintain their commanding lead in the Metropolitan Division.
Seattle’s Shane Wright and Jordan Eberle scored in the loss, while Joey Daccord stopped 20 of 23 shots for the Kraken, who could not pick up consecutive wins over the weekend.
Takeaways
Kraken: The focus remains on the team’s future, and with 15 goals this season, Wright is proving he could be a key piece of Seattle’s long-term plans.
Capitals: Washington seems to have regained momentum after a midseason slump, continuing to solidify its position atop the Eastern Conference.
Key Moment
McMichael redirected John Carlson’s slap pass past Daccord with 4:16 left in regulation, breaking the tie and setting up Washington’s victory.
Key Stat
The game featured a combined 50 penalty minutes as both teams engaged in a physical, chippy battle.
Up Next
The Capitals kick off a three-game California road trip Tuesday night in Anaheim, while the Kraken return home to host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
