Alexander Ovechkin scored his 872nd career goal and the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Rangers 7-4 on Saturday afternoon.
Ovi has scored four times in his last five games since returning to action following a month and a half absence. He is now 22 goals away from Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
The Russian forward increased his team’s lead to 5-3 midway through the third period with his 19th goal of the year. He pounced on the puck during a lost faceoff in offensive territory to beat Jonathan Quick with a backhand under the right pad. He also added an assist.
Dylan Strome continued his thunderous season with a performance of one goal and two assists. He currently has his best career points per game average (1.12).
Washington, which sits atop the Metropolitan Division, is 6-0-2 in its last eight appearances at home.
The Caps scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead. First, Strome tied the game with his 12th goal in the first period, this one on the power play. He jumped on a return shot from Jakob Chychrun, and the goal was validated despite the fact that goalkeeper Jonathan Quick complained that his work in the semi-circle was interfered with.
In the second, Lars Eller got his seventh goal of the year by redirecting a long shot from Martin Fehervary. Andrew Mangiapane added more midway through the period and Connor McMichael completed the period with a second goal in three chances on the massive attack this afternoon.
Filip Chytil reduced the gap to 4-3 by taking advantage of a long pass on the palette of Urho Vaakanainen to bring himself alone in front of Logan Thompson, but Ovechkin broke the back of the visitors.
Tom Wilson completed the scoring in an empty net for the Caps; Aliaksei Protas also hit the target in the victory.
In addition to Chytil, Chris Kreider, Sam Carrick and Mika Zibanejad responded for the Blueshirts.
Rangers forward Matt Rempe is completing his eight-game suspension for ganging up and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen. He missed a sixth game in a row.
