Ovechkin closed the gap on Gretzky

The Washington Capitals delivered a commanding road victory, blanking the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-0. Captain Alexander Ovechkin fueled the win with a goal and an assist, underscoring his lasting impact on the ice.

The Capitals pressed early, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the second minute when veteran Tom Wilson finished a scoring chance. Washington controlled play, but there was no additional scoring before the end of the opening period.

Though Pittsburgh regrouped briefly, Ovechkin ended the quiet spell. In the opening minute of the second period, he converted on a power play, tracking the puck to the net and firing it into the far corner for a 2-0 cushion.

That goal marked Ovechkin’s 18th of the season and his 10th in the last 15 games, a strong stretch that kept him within reach of Gretzky’s all-time regular-season record. The tally moved him to 840 career goals, narrowing the gap to Gretzky’s 894 by 54. He nearly added another later, ripping a shot off the post from the left circle in a high-danger area that teased a goal.

Ovechkin’s two-point performance helped boost his standing among NHL scorers while Washington pushed for more after the early surge. The game showcased crisp passing, including a behind-the-net feed from the Russian star that set up chances in the crease. Washington extended its lead as the game wore on, keeping Pittsburgh off balance with quick transitions and precise shooting.

The 15 top scorers in the NHL

From the same sequence of plays, Ovechkin added an assist in the second period that helped a Detroit-style passing attack connect for the visitors. Nick Jensen scored in the frame to make it 3-0, and Ovechkin found Trevor Van Riemsdyk behind the net, who moved the puck to a favorable spot. Tom Wilson then positioned the puck toward Hendrix Lapierre at center, who redirected the shot into the net to push the lead to 4-0.

Two points in the game moved Ovechkin past a legendary figure in NHL history, lifting him to 15th on the all-time scoring list. He sits at 1532 points, composed of 840 goals and 692 assists, in 1405 NHL appearances. Paul Coffey sits just behind him at 1531, illustrating how tight this echelon remains. Ovechkin’s next target is Mark Recchi, at 1533 points; reaching that total would place him within one point of 14th. Among active players, Ovechkin trails only Sidney Crosby, who has 1565 points in 1251 games, keeping Crosby as the higher-scoring active player while Ovechkin remains among the league’s elite. Gretzky still leads with 2857 points in 1487 games.

The night also offered a glimpse of Ovechkin’s influence on assists as he approached Sergei Fedorov in the league’s history of playmakers. The assist in this game marked Ovechkin’s 692nd career helper, ranking him 64th all time, just behind Fedorov at 696. In the 2023/24 season, Ovechkin has tallied 47 points through 58 games, with 18 goals and 29 assists.

The first disc of the Russian who beat cancer

Rising forward Ivan Miroshnichenko, a 20-year-old from Russia, joined Washington in May 2023 after overcoming Hodgkin lymphoma. He spent most of his time with Hershey before his NHL call-up on February 26, scoring his first NHL goal shortly thereafter.

In Pittsburgh’s backfield, Miroshnichenko made a deft move, receiving a pass behind the goalie and beating the crease goaltender with a quick flick to the far corner for a stylish finish. The goal underscored his poise and technique at a young age.

Ovechkin celebrated the moment with a lighthearted nod, thumping his knee and helmet as the young teammate celebrated. Miroshnichenko spoke with club media afterward, describing the moment as a dream and expressing belief that perseverance would fuel more goals in the NHL. Ovechkin greeted the moment with a smile, noting that the youngster had earned the ovation with his play.

The young forward earned recognition as the game’s third star, behind Dylan Strome who logged a handful of assists and Washington’s goalie Charlie Lindgren who faced 39 shots and stood tall in goal.

Washington heading to playoffs

Washington’s sixth goal came with help from Russian defenseman Alexander Alekseev, who assisted on the play. Dylan Strome carried the puck forward, choosing a pass to Sonny Milano on a sharp angle, producing the clinching score at 6-0.

With this win, Washington collected 67 points in 61 games, placing the club tenth in the Eastern Conference standings. A playoff spot requires climbing to at least eighth, a position currently held by Tampa Bay with 72 points but having played three more games than Washington. If the Capitals keep winning, they remain in postseason contention.

Washington’s next game is scheduled for March 10 against the Chicago Blackhawks, with the puck drop set for 03:00 Moscow time, highlighting the global reach of the league and its fan base.