This season Washington has shown mixed form, making long-range predictions tricky for analysts. At one stage it looked like the Capitals could miss the playoffs, but under the leadership of Alexander Ovechkin, they have gradually turned the tide toward their goals. The matchup with Calgary appeared to mark a potential turning point.
The opening frame finished with Calgary ahead 1-0, as Dylan Strome opened the scoring for the visitors.
Early in the second period, Ovechkin found the net twice on the power play, giving Washington a lead that would prove decisive in the end.
Moments later, Kevin Rooney added a goal for Calgary, but Hendrix Lapierre answered to push Washington ahead by three by the end of the second period. In the final period, both teams found the back of the net; Mackenzie Weegar and Tom Wilson tallied for their sides. The final horn confirmed Washington’s third straight win.
With the victory, the Capitals reached 75 points and climbed to eighth in the Eastern Conference, edging out Detroit and locking in a playoff berth. Sports writer Rob Rossi remarked that the Capitals should contend for the Stanley Cup this season.
“I believe in the Washington Capitals more than any other team still vying for a second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Why? They have stayed true to themselves all season,” he posted on social media.
“Ovechkin is already a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame”
After the game, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery explained why the 38-year-old star continues to perform at a high level. The reason, in his view, is simple and enduring.
“Stability. Not only in performance but also in durability and the ability to play game after game for many years. He notched his 20th and 21st goals of the season, which were crucial for us. We had to squeeze value from every shot,” Carbery noted. [NHL official site].
Lapierre highlighted the collective effort to support their captain as he pursues Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring mark. He called Ovechkin a private force for the team and said the group is proud to help him chase history.
We all support him and celebrate when he scores. Of course we cheer others’ goals, but Ovi has something special, and today he delivered important goals. We want to help him in his quest. He’s incredibly gracious,” Lapierre said. [Team remarks].
Strome shared the sense that Ovechkin’s Hall of Fame credentials are already secure and expressed appreciation for being part of his remarkable journey.
“Ovechkin is a world-class player who belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and it’s a privilege to watch him contribute even at 38. It’s exciting to be part of his career,” Strome stated.
Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf noted that facing Ovechkin is always a challenge and congratulated him on a strong performance, even as he admitted the night wasn’t ideal for his team. Wolf emphasized that playing against a legendary scorer remains a special moment in his career and pointed out that Ovechkin’s presence on the ice is a constant reminder of his outstanding skill. He also referenced Ovechkin’s astonishing milestone as the 174th goaltender to score in the NHL. [Postgame remarks].
Ovechkin’s achievements
Undoubtedly the standout performer of the game, Ovechkin added to a long list of career milestones. He narrowed the gap to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, sitting at 894 with 843 tallies to his name. He has posted 52 points this season (21 goals, 31 assists) across 64 appearances.
Additionally, the Russian forward reached his 128th game-winning goal, placing him seven shy of Jaromir Jagr’s NHL record of 135 game-winning tallies.
Ovechkin also climbed higher on the all-time scoring list, totaling 1537 points in 1411 games (843 goals, 694 assists). He sits just two points behind Joe Thornton for 13th place on the league’s all-time list. In games played, he moved past Norm Ullman and tied Harry Howell, now ranking 37th in NHL history.
That night marked his 19th season with 20 or more goals, a mark that places him behind only Ron Francis (20) and Gordie Howe (22) for most such seasons in league history.