Alexander Ovechkin, the Russian forward who captains the Washington Capitals, reached his 1,417th NHL game. On March 31, the Capitals were edged by the Boston Bruins in a shootout during a regular season clash. Ovechkin did not register a point in the game and was not part of the ensuing shootout.
When it comes to games played by a Russian player, Ovechkin sits ahead of rivals tied to teams like the Calgary Flames and the St. Louis Blues. The former Canadian defenseman for the Blues had passed Allan MacInnis and tied Luke Richardson, placing Ovechkin 35th on the all-time list. His next milestone target is Pat Verbeek, who has appeared in 1,424 NHL games.
Earlier in the week, the Russian scorer had a five-game goal streak halted after March 27, a stretch in which he found the back of the net eight times. Across the season, Ovechkin skated in 69 regular season games, tallying 26 goals and 32 assists for a strong offensive contribution.
Following 73 games, Washington sits seventh in the NHL’s Eastern Conference with 82 points. The Capitals are scheduled to hit the road for their upcoming matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, a contest that could help shape their playoff positioning as the schedule tightens.
In another notable note from the league, Artemi Panarin had recorded a four-point performance in a previous game, highlighting the high-octane scoring bursts that often reshape a season’s momentum.