Washington Capitals 2-4 Anaheim Ducks
The playoff hunt remains tight as Washington hosted Anaheim, the Western Conference bottom-dwellers, in a matchup that carried extra weight for the Capitals. Captain Alexander Ovechkin returned from Russia following family bereavement to lace up for a pivotal game. Fans hoped his return would spark a much-needed rally, but Washington stumbled again, extending a troubling skid to five losses in total and four in a row in the league standings.
The Capitals did strike first, with TJ Oshie finding the net in the 11th minute. Shortly after, Ovechkin had a prime chance to pull even with a highlight-reel finish, but Ducks’ goaltender John Gibson denied him from close range. Ovechkin spent about 22 minutes on the ice without recording a goal, finishing the night at minus two on the score sheet.
Anaheim seized the momentum in the second period. Isac Lundestrom tied the game, then Nick Jensen briefly put Washington back ahead before Troy Terry, assisted by Dmitry Kulikov, sparked a three-minute flurry that swung the game the Ducks’ way. By the 43rd minute, Jacob Silfverberg potted the third goal for Anaheim, and Derek Grant capped the night with an empty-net tally to seal the 4-2 final.
Ovechkin’s return has yet to alter Washington’s fortunes. The club even appeared to set a franchise record by losing six consecutive games for the first time since 2003. Anaheim’s win ended a six-game drought, and Ovechkin offered cautious optimism for the next contest.
Ovechkin expressed relief at being back while acknowledging the ongoing challenge. “Everything is fine. I’m glad I’m back, and with each shift I feel the game more,” he remarked. “But the next game will be better.”
Before this game began, a notable development rocked the Capitals. Longtime partner Dmitry Orlov, the Russian defenseman, was traded to Boston, followed by forward Garnet Hathaway heading in the same direction. The move left Ovechkin reflecting on the change, but he stressed resilience and moving forward with the group. “It’s sad. Great teammates, good friends, great players. It’s tough, but it’s work. That’s life, I wish them good luck and we need to move on,” he said.
Orlov’s representative, Mark Gandler, described the shock of the trade while signaling that the former blueliner would channel his energy into responding to a new challenge. “Dmitri is shocked but excited, he wants to win the Stanley Cup. Once you have it, you can’t get rid of the longing. The trade didn’t surprise him, but it’s a big change to leave the team that drafted him after 11 years,” he explained.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Buffalo Sabres – 5:6 in OT
The day’s most prolific scoring affair occurred in Tampa, where the home squad hosted Buffalo and needed overtime to decide the winner. On the Tampa side, Nikita Kucherov earned a standout mention for assisting Stephen Stamkos in the opening minute of the third period, a pass that marked his 60th of the season and a new club record. He became the first Lightning player to notch 60 assists in three separate seasons in franchise history.
Buffalo’s Ilya Lyubushkin emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring the overtime winner in the second extra session. He also logged a short-handed goal, a rare feat that made him the first Sabres defenseman to score in overtime during the regular season. The previous player to achieve a similar feat did so in a playoff setting. Lyubushkin’s performance underscored the team’s resilience in a high-scoring showdown.
Lyubushkin reflected on the night: “Look at my stats, I’m not scoring many goals, but it’s fantastic to contribute for Buffalo. It’s a great group with a lot of talent and a strong atmosphere.”
Columbus Blue Jackets 0-2 Minnesota Wild
In a win that solidified their position, Minnesota defeated Columbus on the road for a fourth straight victory. Kirill Kaprizov starred for the visitors, with Brandon Duhaime opening the scoring early and Kaprizov extending the margin after a turnover, leaving Columbus with a two-goal deficit that endured the full 60 minutes.
Kaprizov added to his season tally, taking his total to 68 points on the year, a reflection of his continued impact as one of Minnesota’s prime offensive contributors.
Detroit Red Wings 4-1 New York Rangers
The Detroit side dominated much of the night, pinning the Rangers with strong defense and effective counterattacks. Vincent Trocheck provided New York’s lone offense, while Artemi Panarin and Vladimir Tarasenko were held off the scoresheet, Tarasenko finishing at minus one for the game.
Tarasenko’s debut with the Rangers followed his recent trade from St. Louis, and Jacob Truba even lightheartedly suggested queuing more Russian reinforcements for the club. Yet the early-season chemistry faced strain as Vitaly Kravtsov missed the Detroit encounter amid possible trade considerations, a dynamic that underscored the ongoing roster shuffles around the league.
Pittsburgh Penguins 2-7 Edmonton Oilers
Pittsburgh lingered in decline, suffering a fourth consecutive loss as they faced Edmonton. The Oilers’ defense held firm as the Penguins failed to keep pace, yet Evgeni Malkin shone at the fore. He assisted on both of Pittsburgh’s goals, including the first with Chris Letang finishing the sequence in the second minute.
Edmonton’s onslaught was relentless, with seven goals on the board as the clock wound down. Letang added a late consolation, scoring with help from Malkin, but the damage had already been done and the evening belonged to Edmonton’s offensive firepower.
St Louis Blues 2-3 Vancouver Canucks
St. Louis pressed late, erasing a one-goal deficit only to watch Vancouver force overtime. Russian forward Andrey Kuzmenko delivered a late equalizer, making the finale tense. Elias Pettersson then supplied the overtime winner, sealing the Canucks’ triumph on the road.
These results reflect a season of fluctuating performances and pivotal moments across the league, highlighting the individual starlights who push teams through grueling schedules and the quiet, steady work of rosters that can still surprise when it matters most. Attribution: NHL game reports and team press materials.