The Alexander Ovechkin of the heyday continues to strike, with the Washington Capitals captain scoring in a fifth straight game Wednesday night in Washington.
With his eighth goal of the season, his 861e in his career, the Russian continues to approach the magic number of 894, Wayne Gretzky’s goals record.
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Fueled by Dylan Strome once again, Ovechkin fired a reception near the slot to beat Juuse Saros midway through the third period. This goal made the difference and at the same time spoiled the great evening of work for the Nashville Predators goaltender who was targeted by 36 pucks. Watch in main video.
The Capitals won 3 to 2, signing a fourth victory in five outings.
Since Ovechkin’s goals generally attract attention, it is rather discreetly that Connor McMichael finds a way to get noticed. Like his teammate, the Ontarian scored his eighth goal of the season, a seventh in as many games.
Aliaksei Protas, assisted by Ovechkin and Strome, was the other scorer for Washington. This is 11 points in five duels that the 39-year-old veteran has accumulated.
As for the Predators, the threat of a reconstruction mentioned for the first time Wednesday by general manager Barry Trotz was not enough to whip up the troops.
Juuso Parssinen, who only took part in a fifth game this fall with the “Preds”, opened his account in the first period. Steven Stamkos shook the strings for a third time in 2024-2025 by deflecting a shot in the second period.
The Predators still occupy last place in the Western Conference with nine points in 13 games.
Victorious evening for former Hawks
At the United Center, where Patrick Kane played for the second time since leaving the Windy City, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin each had a goal and an assist, and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4 to 1 .
Kane had a quiet night against his former team, but he forced Connor Bedard to take a penalty when he tripped him in the first period. Also a former Hawks player, DeBrincat opened the scoring at the expense of goalkeeper Petr Mrazek in the opening third with his sixth goal of the campaign. Joe Veleno also scored, while Andrew Copp completed the scoring in an abandoned cage.
Supported by Cam Talbot who made 28 saves, the winners signed a second consecutive victory to move up to fifth place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Ottawa Senators.
For the local favorites, who saw their short winning streak come to an end, Bedard was held in check. Nick Foligno scored his fifth goal of the season.
