Ovechkin scored an important goal but missed the decisive penalty kick
The Washington Capitals, perched atop the Eastern Conference, faced a stern test against the Minnesota Wild, a team known for its depth and grit on the Western side of the ledger.
Early in the first period, the teams traded goals in quick succession. Tom Wilson gave Washington the advantage, only to have Ryan Hartman pull Minnesota even just 65 seconds later with a sharp response at 1:01.
With 19 minutes gone in the opening frame, Minnesota earned the man advantage after Zach Bogosian was penalized for holding. The Capitals capitalized on the situation in a surprising way as Yakov Trenin, deflecting a rebound, beat Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren mishandled a routine clear behind the net, allowing Trenin to pounce and push the score to 2-1 in favor of Minnesota despite Washington being on a power play moment earlier.
The goal marked the Russian forward’s third of the season, a notable milestone for a player who has stepped up in key moments against elite teams.
Washington answered in the next period when Minnesota’s Marat Khusnutdinov took a four-minute penalty for high-sticking. Ovechkin received a feed near the blue line, unloading a long-range shot that found the bottom left corner to restore parity at 2-2.
The teams then traded blows again, settling at 3-3 and sending the game to a decisive shootout where nerves ran high. Matt Boldy scored for Minnesota on the lone successful chance in regulation, and Ovechkin stepped up for Washington with a chance to seal the deal. The captain could not slip the puck past the Minnesota netminder, and the shootout ended with a 4-3 victory for the Wild while the Capitals picked up a single point.
Ovechkin attempted to outmaneuver Marc-Andre Fleury, aiming for a shoulder-height finish, but Fleury read the play and gloved the shot away as the clock expired. The result left Minnesota with the two points, and Washington with one, keeping the Capitals clear at the top of the Eastern standings with 53 points from 38 games. Their next test came in a January matchup against the New York Rangers, a game set to unfold in the Washington area on a schedule not shown here.
Ovechkin broke the 57-year-old record
The shot that found the net against Minnesota marked the 871st regular-season goal of Alexander Ovechkin’s illustrious NHL career. With that strike, he closed the gap to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark, sitting 23 goals behind the legendary number 894.
Along the way, Ovechkin also surpassed Brett Hull in goals scored against the same goaltender, a milestone many observers felt signified a historic matchup. Hull recorded 40 goals against Fleury; Ovechkin now sits at 41 against the longtime Wild keeper, a stat that stands out in the league’s long history since expansion in 1967-68.
Marc-Andre Fleury, a veteran who has faced Ovechkin many times, has publicly acknowledged the enduring rivalry that has fueled both players over the years. The veteran goaltender is nearing the end of his playing days, scheduled to retire after the current season.
Back on the ice, Ovechkin also rose to second place among Russian scorers this season, passing Nikita Kucherov who had 17 goals. The Capitals captain now has 18 on the year, with Kirill Kaprizov leading the way at 23 for Minnesota.
Why didn’t Kaprizov take part in the game against Washington?
The 27-year-old Wild forward remains sidelined by a lower-body injury as Minnesota monitors his recovery. General Manager Bill Guerin stated that Kaprizov is close to a return but that the team will not rush him back, prioritizing long-term availability over a quick comeback.
The coach and front office emphasized that Kaprizov could return at any point, once he has fully cleared to play. Until then, Minneapolis waits with anticipation as the squad looks to regain its explosive offense with their star up front.