Washington Capitals defeated Montreal Canadiens 6-3 thanks to Alex Ovechkin’s scoring abilities, in an exciting contest that showcased Alex Ovechkin and brought him closer than ever to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record of 858 career goals. This match marked Ovechkin’s journey toward surpassing Gretzky with 37 more goals attained than needed!
Ovechkin Inches Closer to Gretzky’s Record
Ovechkin scored on Cayden Primeau on Thursday – marking his 176th different goaltender he has faced so far this season – to put himself on pace for 45 goals this year. In addition to scoring, his performance also included assists for Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas who each scored goals during this game; potentially surpassing Gretzky’s 894 goal record this spring!
Wilson Ends Power-Play Slump
Tom Wilson managed to end a streak of 22 unsuccessful power-play attempts by scoring the team’s leading sixth goal this season. Close behind were Brandon Duhaime and Jakub Vrana, who scored in quick succession. Meanwhile, Connor McMichael, fresh off becoming a father, contributed to the scoring, underscoring the Capitals’ strong season start at 7-2-0, their best since the 2015-16 season.
The Canadiens saw Cole Caufield scoring his 10th goal, tying for the league’s top scorer, while Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki also added to the team’s scoreboard. Despite their efforts, goaltender Primeau faced a tough night with 28 saves.
Canadiens Show Resilience
After a challenging 8-2 loss to Seattle, the Canadiens showed marked improvement in their gameplay, enabled in part by the return of defensemen Kaiden Guhle and Justin Barrow from injury. Coach Martin St-Louis’s line adjustments appeared to have a positive impact, even though the team could not secure a win.
Capitals Mark Themselves as Playoff Contenders
The Capitals have started the season strongly, suggesting they are serious contenders for the playoffs. This comes after a series of strategic moves in the offseason to strengthen the team.
Defining Moment of the Game
Charlie Lindgren made an outstanding save during a critical penalty kill period of the third period that helped maintain Washington Capitals’ lead and keep pace with their opponents’ offence, who scored three or more goals in eight out of nine games played this year.
Looking Ahead
The Capitals will host Columbus looking to extend their winning streak, while Montreal looks for revenge against Pittsburgh.