Alexander Ovechkin had not found the back of the net in the previous two games, but Washington capitalized on a slower schedule between meetings. The Russian winger’s most recent tally before this night was March 27, yet he would not be kept quiet for long. He added his 43rd goal of the season and moved to 773 goals in his NHL career, underscoring a pivotal moment for the Capitals as Tampa Bay entered the night with momentum. Washington relied on Ovechkin to provide the decisive spark and he delivered, helping his team clinch the win.
From early on, the scoring barrage arrived quickly. In the 17th minute, the rink erupted with five goals. Washington grabbed the lead, extended it with strikes from Martin Fehervary and John Carlson, both set up by Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Lightning answered, with Nikita Kucherov registering a goal to make it a one-goal game, but Ovechkin responded with a marker from the right circle after a brilliant give-and-go with Kuznetsov. The pass returned to the Russian, who regained the advantage for Washington with a second power play finish of the night.
Before the first intermission, Nick Paul pulled Tampa Bay back within one, reigniting the challenge for the visitors. As the middle period wore on, Carlson struck again, this time doubling his personal total with Ovechkin assisting. The sequence proved critical, as the scoreline remained tight, and Tampa found themselves at a disadvantage late in the game. In the closing minutes of the second period, Ross Colton’s finish with the empty net, helped along by a Mikhail Sergachev assist, briefly pulled the Lightning within a goal. Yet the late push was not enough, and Washington held on for a 4-3 triumph to snap a skid and collect valuable standings points.
After the final whistle, Kuznetsov reflected on the performance saying, what was captured by the NHL’s official site, that the team had played a good game and earned two critical points. The night showcased a mix of high-tempo stretches and moments of resilience that defined the proceedings, with teammates recognizing that a productive team effort outweighed any single phase of play.
Ovechkin’s performance elevated him to a milestone-laden night. His 43rd regular-season goal of the year left him with 773 goals in the NHL regular season, narrowing Gordie Howe’s historic lead to 28. Howie remains the league’s second all-time scorer in this category, and Ovechkin’s pace suggests a strong finish could bring him closer to Gretzky’s long-standing record of 894 goals, even if the season’s final chapters remain uncertain.
Additionally, the combined total of Ovechkin’s goal and assist in the Tampa game pushed his career regular-season point total to 1,401. This mark places him among a very exclusive group, as only Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, and Stan Mikita had achieved 1,400 points for a single franchise. The Russian captain also narrowed the gap to Dale Hawerchuk in the all-time scoring list, closing in on the top ranks. Washington’s leader also climbed to 82nd on the all-time assists list with his 628th helper, highlighting a sustained impact across the NHL’s most storied franchises.
In another historic milestone, Ovechkin’s 1,265th regular-season game against Tampa Bay moved him into 81st place on the all-time appearances list for the league. He surpassed a former teammate, Justin Williams, who finished his career at 1,264 games. The all-time games record remains held by Patrick Marleau, who played 1,779 regular-season games—a benchmark still well beyond reach for most players but a reminder of Ovechkin’s longevity and consistency.