The Washington Capitals have won seven of their last ten games, and the clash with the Winnipeg Jets marks the fourth win in that stretch. After an uneven start to the season, the Capitals began stabilizing, and the result against the Jets came early, with Washington storming ahead in the second period. In under 15 minutes of play in the middle frame, the Capitals opened a commanding lead, scoring four goals as Winnipeg struggled to respond. The Jets managed two goals, but it wasn’t enough, and Washington sealed the victory with a late tally from Alexander Ovechkin.
Ovechkin’s 797th career goal was a spectacular moment. Roughly 58 minutes into the game, the Jets were shorthanded and attempting to force overtime when Ovechkin seized the puck, moved it from Dmitry Orlov, and fired a powerful 35-meter shot into an open net. The play left the defense scrambling to defend the attacker or the puck, with neither succeeding.
What stood out about Ovechkin’s goal is that he has now scored on empty nets in four consecutive games, a striking run that marked a first in his storied career.
Ovechkin currently has 53 goals that were unassisted by a teammate, bringing him closer to Wayne Gretzky’s benchmark. Gretzky tallied 56 goals in a single season, placing him ahead of the Russian in the pursuit of the all-time mark. The current standings place Ovechkin in second, with four goals separating him from Gretzky’s record.
Before the game against Winnipeg, Ovechkin spoke about his chase of Gretzky’s record and expressed happiness with his career goal total.
“It’s great. We’re getting closer every time. There are only two players ahead, and it’s a thrill to be within reach. I have a few commemorative discs, but I still prefer sticks,” Ovechkin said on the club’s social media channel.
The forward also added another personal milestone, recording his 51st goal against Winnipeg’s franchise lineage, a notable stat in the rivalry history.
But Ovechkin was not alone in delivering strong moments. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov contributed with an assist that helped set up a critical scoring chance for Lars Eller and Anthony Mantha. Orlov returned to the ice for the first time in 16 games since an injury on October 6, stepping back into action in a meaningful way. Meanwhile, Evgeny Kuznetsov supplied Washington’s second tally by converting a feed from John Carlson, maneuvering the puck into the corner of the net with a forceful shot.
Other achievements of Russian players in the NHL
In a separate game, the Colorado Avalanche edged the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in overtime. Russian forward Valery Nichushkin and defenseman Cale Makar were instrumental, with Nichushkin playing a key role as Mikko Rantanen forced overtime with a late push.
In that same encounter, Vladimir Tarasenko of the Blues found the back of the net for St. Louis’s first goal, a performance that helped keep him high in the Blues’ history books for powerplay goals. Tarasenko’s career tally in that category now stands at 64, and his next milestone would move him past Garry Anger for sixth place on the Blues’ all-time list.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko recorded his first NHL goal during a game that ended in a 6-5 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings. Marchenko opened the scoring with an assist from Kent Johnson in the seventh minute of the first period.
Vladislav Gavrikov contributed to Columbus’s victory with a setup that helped Jack Roslovich create a rapid scoring chance, and Gavrikov later assisted Johnny Gaudreau in overtime, sealing the win for the Jackets.
Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky faced a tough night for the Florida Panthers as Seattle topped them 5-2. Bobrovsky allowed four goals while the Panthers defense struggled with exit plays, and the goaltender faced 31 shots in a game that featured a late empty-net goal by Seattle.
Overall, the night underscored how Russian players continued to shape the NHL’s competitive landscape, showcasing depth across multiple teams and moments of individual brilliance that resonated with fans and analysts alike.