Athletic journalists did not crown Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin as the Washington Capitals’ best player for the remainder of the 2023/2024 regular season. They highlighted goalkeeper Charlie Lindgren in that top spot instead.
There is little surprise here. Lindgren has been the Capitals’ most valuable contributor since the season began. In March, he steered Washington to 8 of 12 possible points, posting a .937 save percentage and recording an astonishing 8.05 saves above expected per game—a remarkable feat that helped the team stay in playoff contention. The article noted that his stellar play was a key reason Washington stayed within striking distance of the eighth seed, even if the club narrowly missed it at times.
Meanwhile, Ovechkin remains in pursuit of Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all‑time scoring record. Gretzky sits at 894 goals, with Ovechkin at 840, a gap of 54 goals that continues to drive the Russian star through the remainder of his illustrious career.
In this season, Ovechkin has appeared in 62 games, contributing 18 goals and 31 assists. After 64 games, Washington sits tenth in the Metropolitan Division with 71 points in the standings. On the night of March 15, during an NHL regular-season tilt against Seattle, the Capitals won 2–1, but Ovechkin did not record a point in that matchup, leaving some observers to discuss the team’s scoring depth and offensive options in crunch time.
Looking ahead, Washington is scheduled to travel to face Vancouver. The game slated for March 17 is expected to begin at 5:00 p.m. Moscow time, a reminder of the global reach of hockey and the ongoing conversations about where the Capitals stand in a competitive league that prizes both star power and depth throughout the lineup.
Historically, observers have compared Ovechkin’s continued chase of Gretzky with the broader arc of legendary players who carry a franchise as they chase enduring records. The dynamic between a goal-scoring icon and a league that evolves year by year remains a focal point for fans and analysts across North America, including Canada and the United States, where the Capitals’ season has held particular resonance for those following the sport closely.