Despite long odds from critics and many fans, Washington keeps chasing a playoff spot. Management hinted at selling at the trade deadline, a move often seen when a team eyes the next season. Yet Spencer Carbery’s squad refuses to quit and remains in the Stanley Cup chase.
The Capitals opened their road game in Vancouver knowing one of their strongest rivals, the New York Islanders, had earned a point in overtime against Ottawa. A win would put Washington level with the Islanders in points and games played, and could push them into a wildcard position. The race for the final playoff slots was tight and every result mattered.
The match against the Western Conference leaders did not unfold easily for Washington. Vancouver struck first in the opening shift. Ilya Mikheyev sent a feed to captain Quinn Hughes, who wrestled with the puck near the blue line, skated laterally, then fired. Brock Boeser, positioned in front of Charlie Lindgren, redirected the shot on the doorstep, threading it through the goalie’s pads.
In the first period, the Canucks looked slightly sharper, but neither team could claim a decisive edge. The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the second period. Washington surged, while Vancouver seemed to slip back after the intermission.
Washington began to move with more pace, creating chances, while Vancouver’s defense and goaltending resisted. The Caps won an important faceoff in the attacking zone and Ivan Miroshnichenko executed a bold, improvised feed to the far post, where Tom Wilson finished with authority. This marked Miroshnichenko’s first NHL assist in addition to his early scoring exploits in the league.
Moments later, the Capitals struck again as captain Alexander Ovechkin found the back of the net from a setup involving Russian defenseman Alexander Alekseev and center Connor McMichael. The miscue by the Canucks in overtime earlier in the season haunted them, but this time Washington converted in regulation, demonstrating their persistence. Ovechkin’s goal was his 19th of the year, pushing his career total to a remarkable 841. The milestone edged him closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record, with only 53 shots separating him from history.
Washington kept pressing in the second period, but Vancouver’s goaltender Casey DeSmith stood tall, turning aside several high-quality chances. The Canucks regrouped in the third and pushed back, even testing with extra attackers in the dying minutes, yet they could not break through. Ovechkin nearly added another tally, but DeSmith remained solid as the goaltender locked down the crease.
The 2:1 scoreline endured to the final buzzer, leaving Ovechkin with a late-season highlight as he collected his 127th game-winning goal. He closed the day eight behind Jaromir Jagr on the all-time list, a stat subject to change with every remaining matchup.
Meanwhile, Alexander the Great is on pace to reach at least 20 goals in each of his 19 NHL seasons, a testament to enduring excellence. Washington remains a point behind Detroit in the standings, with a game in hand, and the Capitals maintain momentum as the season winds down.
Florida Panthers – Tampa Bay Lightning – 3:5
The Lightning, entrenched in the wildcard hunt, traveled to Florida aiming to extend their push and continue a bid to reach the playoffs as league leaders in the wild card picture.
Steven Stamkos wasted little time, scoring in the opening moments to push Tampa Bay ahead. By the seventh minute of the second period the lead was 4-0, and Florida found itself chasing the game as the Lightning pursued a secure win. The Panthers managed to chip away as the night progressed, but Tampa Bay had already built a significant cushion.
Matt Tkachuk’s contribution helped Florida narrow the deficit, and Sam Reinhart added another, prompting a late push. Nikita Kucherov then benefited from a well-placed pass from Stamkos and Braden Hagel to restore a clearer advantage for Tampa Bay.
Stamkos starred with a four-point night (2 goals, 2 assists), while Kucherov added a goal and an assist to tighten the gap with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon in the scoring race. The star power did not eclipse the standout performance of Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Russian goalie who finished with 47 saves, a colossal performance next to Sergei Bobrovsky’s 15 shots faced for the Panthers.
The result underscored the goaltending duel and the disciplined depth of the Lightning, who held on to the win despite a late Florida surge. The Panthers battled back but could not complete the comeback as Tampa Bay preserved the lead.
Pittsburgh Penguins – New York Rangers – 4:7
Artemi Panarin dominated the spotlight in Pittsburgh, scoring twice and setting up three more as he orchestrated the Rangers’ high-scoring win. The Russian forward racked up five points in his latest standout performance.
Asked about the pace of his success, Panarin downplayed the early season expectations, suggesting he simply focuses on each game rather than chasing personal milestones.
Panarin now sits at 93 points on the season (38 goals, 55 assists) in 67 contests, making him the first Ranger to top 90 points in four seasons with the club, and to achieve 90 or more points in three straight seasons. The win boosted the Rangers to 92 points, placing them near the top of the Metropolitan Division, two points behind Florida and three behind Boston, with games in hand on some rivals.
Other matches
Detroit Red Wings – Buffalo Sabres – 4:1
New York Islanders – Ottawa Senators – 3:4 OT
Arizona Coyotes – New Jersey Devils – 4:1
Boston Bruins – Philadelphia Flyers – 6:5
Columbus Blue Jackets – San Jose Sharks – 4:2
Calgary Flames – Montreal Canadiens – 5:2
Toronto Maple Leafs – Carolina Hurricanes – 4:5 OT
Dallas Stars – Los Angeles Kings – 4:1
St Louis Blues – Minnesota Wild – 3:2 OT
Seattle Kraken – Nashville Predators – 1:4
Edmonton Oilers – Colorado Avalanche – 2:3 OT