lex Ovechkin began the Capitals’ three-game California road trip with assists on three of Washington’s seven goals against Anaheim.* Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens helped the Senators secure a fourth straight win as Ottawa looks to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017.
* Wednesday’s schedule is highlighted by an NHL on TNT doubleheader as well as a pivotal game in the Western Conference’s Wild Card race on Sportsnet.
OVECHKIN TALLIES THREE ASSISTS AHEAD OF 600-GOAL MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY
Alex Ovechkin had a pair of first-period helpers and the primary assist when Aliaksei Protas completed his first career hat trick as the Capitals (43-14-8, 94 points) clipped the Ducks at Honda Center and maintained their hold on first place in the NHL standings. With every hat trick this season, AstraZeneca will donate $3,000 to the Hockey Fights Cancer Fund of the V Foundation up to $300,000.
* Ovechkin has tallied 286 times since reaching 600 career goals exactly seven years ago today. Ovechkin scored a second-period marker against the Jets in his 990th career game on March 12, 2018, and became the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to hit the milestone behind Wayne Gretzky (718 GP), Mario Lemieux (719 GP) and Brett Hull (900 GP). That was Ovechkin’s 42nd goal of the campaign – he needs 42 this season to reach 895 and complete The Gr8 Chase.
* Ovechkin and the Capitals continue their three-game California road trip when they clash with the Kings tomorrow (10:30 p.m. ET on SN, TVAS, FDSNW, MNMT2), with Los Angeles coming off a 4-1 victory thanks in part to Quinton Byfield extending his goal streak to four games via his first career shorthanded tally. The contest is 10 days before the 31-year anniversary of when Gretzky got his 802nd career goal to pass Gordie Howe for the League record on March 23, 1994, which took place 10 miles from Crypto.com Arena at the Great Western Forum.
Photo via X/@Capitals
TRIO OF CLUBS COLLECT CRUCIAL WINS IN EASTERN CONFERENCE’S WILD CARD RACE
The Senators (34-25-5, 73 points), Canadiens (31-27-6, 68 points) and Bruins (30-28-8, 68 points) beat opponents to gain ground in the Eastern Conference’s Wild Card race Tuesday:
* Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring 24 seconds into the contest to reach the 400-point mark, while Dylan Cozens (1-0—1) capped the night with a point in his third straight game since joining his new team as the Senators cushioned their hold on the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Matthew Highmore made a highlight-reel stick save to preserve Ottawa’s third-period lead after racing back to the defensive zone, which was captured by NHL EDGE data.
* Juraj Slafkovský (1-2—3) registered his fourth career three-point performance to help the Canadiens narrow the gap to two points for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Slafkovský recorded his 18th career multi-point game and tied Henri Richard for the second most among Canadiens skaters before turning 21, trailing only Mario Tremblay (22).
* David Pastrnak (1-1—2) started the Bruins’ third-period, multi-goal comeback with a goal 8:56 into the final frame and assisted on the game winner to help Boston also move within two points of the final Wild Card seed in the East. The Bruins tied their franchise record for most third-period, multi-goal comeback wins in a campaign (also 4 in 2020-21), while Pastrnak (33-48—81 in 66 GP) tied Rick Middleton and Bobby Orr (both w/ 6) for the third-most 80-point seasons in Bruins history. Ray Bourque (10) and Phil Esposito (8) top the list.
HURRICANES, DEVILS STRENGTHEN METROPOLITAN DIVISION POSITIONS WITH WINS
The Hurricanes (39-22-4, 82 points) and Devils (35-25-6, 76 points) both skated to victories Tuesday to help bolster their positions as the second- and third-ranked teams in the Metropolitan Division standings:
* Seth Jarvis opened the scoring with his fourth shorthanded goal of the season (tied for the second most in the NHL) to help the Hurricanes win a fourth straight contest at the Lenovo Center and record their League-leading 26th home victory of the season. Jarvis now trails only Kevyn Adams (5 in 2003-04) for the most shorthanded goals in a single campaign with the franchise.
* Luke Hughes (1-1—2) factored on two of his team’s five goals to help the Devils defeat the Blue Jackets (31-25-8, 70 points) and take a six-point lead over the club for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Hughes boosted his career totals to 16-64—80 (141 GP) and became the fourth defenseman in Devils/Rockies/Scouts history with at least 80 career points at age 21 or younger, joining Scott Niedermayer (25-81—106), Barry Beck (36-66—102) and Joe Cirella (24-64—88). His 64 assists are also tied with Cirella for the third most in franchise history by a blueliner before age 22 behind only Niedermayer and Beck.
JETS, WILD BOOST THEIR CENTRAL DIVISION POSITIONING
Two Central Division teams, the Jets (45-17-4, 94 points) and Wild (37-24-4, 78 points), both skated to victories Tuesday in tightly-contested contests that were decided by just one goal:
* Kyle Connor (0-1—1) factored on the game winner and Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves in his League-leading 38th win to help the Jets boost their position atop the Western Conference and maintain their spot tied in terms of standing points with the League-leading Capitals but behind Washinton (43-14-8, 94 points) due to the games played tiebreaker – Winnipeg has never finished a season atop the League or its conference. Connor factored on a game-winning goal for the 120th time of his career and only two players have factored on as many with the Jets/Thrashers: Mark Scheifele (135) and Blake Wheeler (122).
* After Mats Zuccarello (1-0—1) and Matt Boldy (0-1—1) combined to put the Wild up 1-0, the Avalanche evened the score, but Zuccarello and Boldy both found the back of the net in the shootout to help Minnesota defeat Colorado (39-24-3, 81 points) and move within three points of the club for third place in the Central Division standings. Zuccarello recorded his 322nd career point with the Wild (99-223—322 in 376 GP) and surpassed Andrew Brunette (119-202—321 in 489 GP) for eighth on the franchise’s all-time list.
CROSBY’S SECOND STRAIGHT MULTI-GOAL GAME FEATURED IN LIVE UPDATES
Tuesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 11-game slate, including Sidney Crosby collecting a second straight multi-goal game before Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin connected on the winner to climb the League’s all-time overtime points list. Crosby (37 years, 216 days) became the second-oldest player in franchise history with consecutive multi-goal contests behind Mark Recchi, who was 38 years and 359 days old at the end of his two-game run from Jan. 20-26, 2007.
QUICK CLICKS
* Capitals release special lawn signs celebrating ‘The GR8 CHASE’
* Alex Ovechkin chase of Wayne Gretzky NHL goal record ‘just unbelievable,’ Teemu Selanne says
* Anze Kopitar makes appearance on Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’
* Seth Jones to ‘fill that void’ for Panthers with Aaron Ekblad suspended
* Brad Marchand practices with Panthers for 1st time — in Boston
KEY POINTS ON THE LINE FOR WILD CARD HOPEFULS
The Red Wings (30-28-6, 66 points) and Ducks (28-29-7, 63 points) look to benefit their positions in their respective playoff pushes when they take to the ice during an NHL on TNT and Max doubleheader. The Wild Card race in the Western Conference also spotlights a national broadcast on Sportsnet when the Flames (30-23-10, 70 points), who own Wild Card 2, host the Canucks (29-24-11, 69 points), the first team outside the playoff picture, at Scotiabank Saddledome.
