Washington Capitals – Detroit Red Wings – 4:3 Overtime
In a notable meeting in the nation’s capital, the crowd welcomed Mark and Marty Howe, sons of hockey legend Gordie Howe, the second-highest goal scorer in NHL history. They attended to observe Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals captain, as he chased a milestone that would mirror his father’s legacy. At the time, Howe stood at 801 career goals, while Ovechkin was at 800 and climbing.
Ovechkin, who had been named the first star of the week earlier, expressed a hypothetical desire to best Howe in the clash with Detroit but kept expectations in check.
“It would be exciting to outpace Howe, especially against Detroit,” he noted, though he wisely avoided predicting outcomes. “We’ve only seen him once at the All-Star Game; that was a long time ago. We talked about how the clubs differ and how the game feels different now.”
The game did not begin with Washington taking command. The visitors were comfortable at Capital One Arena and opened a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from David Perron and Oscar Sundqvist. As the second period unfolded, the Capitals seized the initiative, mounting pressure that tested Detroit’s defense. Ovechkin managed to open the scoring with a close-range opportunity, but the shot clanged off the post, denying a momentary breakthrough.
Ovechkin functioned as a creator in that stretch, delivering a key assist to Nick Dowd in the 36th minute. Dowd converted the chance, and Ovechkin moved up in the all-time assists ranking, passing Bobby Orr to reach 646 assists and climb to 70th place overall in the league’s history.
The pace remained brisk as Montreal-style quick transitions continued. Detroit responded swiftly, and it only took 11 seconds of the third period for a Capital defenseman to provide a form of support that reinforced the visitors’ lead. Near the end of the middle frame, officials missed a moment when Detroit goaltender Ville Husso extended his stick, bringing down Ovechkin as he tried to slip past. The captain did not protest and kept his focus on the game.
Early in the third, Lucas Raymond pushed the Red Wings forward again, but Eric Gustafsson answered moments later to level the score. The team then moved into overtime with the result still in the balance, and Washington captured the victory in the extra period, although Ovechkin did not score the deciding goal.
The real standout on the evening was defenseman Dmitry Orlov. His hard shot in overtime gave the Capitals the win, marking their seventh victory in the last eight games and underscoring the team’s resilience after a rocky start.
Head coach Peter Laviolette summarized the turnaround this way: when facing a 0-2 deficit, a team has two options: accept defeat or push harder to turn the game around. Washington chose the latter, and the effort paid off with a late-pace comeback and a dramatic overtime win.
Vancouver Canucks – St. Louis Blues – 1:5
Among the other games last night, a standout was the Vancouver Canucks hosting the St. Louis Blues, a matchup that saw the visitors’ offense explode for five goals. The Blues dominated much of the action, with several players making a significant impact on the score sheet.
Vladimir Tarasenko contributed with an assist hat-trick in another strong performance, while Ivan Barbashev added a key helper. On Vancouver’s side, Ilya Mikheyev tallied the team’s lone goal in the game, highlighting the visitors’ bedrock on a tough night for the home squad.
Other matches
Boston Bruins 7-3 Florida Panthers
Columbus Blue Jackets – Dallas Stars – 1:2
Nashville Predators – Edmonton Oilers – 4:3 Overtime
Colorado Avalanche – New York Islanders – 1:0
Vegas Golden Knights 2-3 Buffalo Sabres
Arizona Coyotes – Montreal Canadiens – 2:3 Overtime