“Utah” – “Washington Capitals” – 2:6
Alexander Ovechkin has delivered standout performances this season at age 39. Many questioned his scoring after a turbulent year, but the veteran forward has carried the Capitals with his signature intensity. In Salt Lake City the Utah club hosted Washington, and the visitors came away with a 6 to 2 win. Ovechkin struck twice, bringing his personal tally to 14 and 15 goals for the season. The night seemed all about him until Utah forward Jack McBain unleashed a hard, high impact hit aimed at Ovechkin, a collision that sparked debate about intent but left the league watching closely.
The game told the story of a lopsided scoreline, yet the spotlight remained on the collision and its aftermath. McBain’s check did not obviously aim to end Ovechkin’s night, but it forced him from the ice. He required help from teammate Jacob Chychrun to get off the ice, and he eventually left the bench area through the tunnel. After the final horn, Capitals winger Tom Wilson chose a different form of message and squared off with McBain, though the exchange did little to change the broader storyline of the night.
“Ovechkin is being examined”
Washington head coach Spencer Carbery spoke to reporters after the game, saying only that the captain’s status was uncertain. The team was set to take a day off to evaluate the damage and learn more about the injury’s nature.
Analysts described Ovechkin’s season as highly productive. The forward remains the team’s leader and a force on both ice and in the locker room. He continues to score and contribute in big moments, a sign of his enduring impact.
“Ovechkin’s injury is concerning”
Teammates expressed their feelings about the injury. Forward Nic Dowd admitted he was shaken by the scene and emphasized Ovechkin’s importance to the Caps and his ability to score. The goaltender Charlie Lindgren echoed the sentiment, noting that Ovechkin is the team’s trump card and leader. He underscored the difficulty of assessing the seriousness of the damage and praised Ovechkin for not only his scoring but his leadership. The captain’s role is pivotal, and his absence would be keenly felt.
Ovechkin’s records
Even with the setback, the 39-year-old extended his list of league records. After the Utah game, the chase of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal mark looked closer than ever, with 26 goals separating him from the record at that moment. Based on his current pace, many believe the mark could fall this season, provided injuries stay away. Utah marked the 32nd NHL club he has scored against, and Capitals opponents faced Connor Ingram of Utah who became the 178th goaltender to yield to Ovechkin’s shot. This milestone places him on a parallel to the great Czech legend Jaromir Jagr in the sense of scoring against many opponents. Since January 2022, Ovechkin has led the league in goal scoring, and the Capitals captain sits with 15 goals in 18 games for the current period.
“We witness his greatness every night. There are no words to describe how impressive it is,” the NHL’s official channel on social media posted after the latest tally. In this latest game, Ovechkin achieved unique achievements. He became the first player in league history to play 100 games on foreign ice and score two or more goals in a single game. No other player had reached 90 games in that category; Gretzky had 83 and Hull 72. The Eight club added another record, with Ovechkin becoming the oldest player at 39 years and 62 days to score in five consecutive periods across a single game. He has matched this with another five period run earlier in his career, a rare feat shared only with a few legends like Joe Malone and Gretzky who did it multiple times.
Ovechkin also matched a milestone with Sidney Crosby by scoring 42 goals at home arenas. He joined Crosby in tallying two or more goals in a game for the 30th time, a mark that echoes Crosby’s similar achievement. The Capitals captain continues to redefine what longevity means in the modern NHL.