Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and Philadelphia Flyers' right wing Tyson Foerster (71) compete for the puck during the first period of an NHL game on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Alex Ovechkin inched closer to hockey history, scoring his 888th career goal as the Washington Capitals secured a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. His first-period goal put him just eight shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s legendary 894-goal record. The home crowd erupted with chants of “Ovi! Ovi!” as the scoreboard ticked up from 887 to 888.
Brandon Duhaime and Andrew Mangiapane also found the net for Washington, while goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 27 saves. With the win, the Capitals now sit atop the standings with 100 points, winning eight of their last nine games. They await league results to confirm their playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the Flyers continue their downward spiral, losing nine of their last 11 games. Ryan Poehling and Sean Couturier were their lone scorers, while goalie Samuel Ersson faced a tough night, conceding three goals on 16 shots.
Panthers 1, Blue Jackets 0 (OT)
In Columbus, Aleksander Barkov lifted the Florida Panthers past the Blue Jackets with a power-play goal just 29 seconds into overtime. Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a flawless performance with 25 saves, earning his 49th career shutout. Florida snapped a two-game road skid and remains tied with Toronto atop the Atlantic Division.
Columbus, now out of the playoff race, suffered its fifth straight loss despite a solid 27-save effort from Elvis Merzlikins, who returned after missing two games for the birth of his child.
Maple Leafs 4, Rangers 3
John Tavares shined in New York, netting two goals and an assist as the Maple Leafs edged out the Rangers. Bobby McMann and Matthew Knies also scored, helping Toronto secure its third consecutive win.
The Rangers struggled, losing their third straight home game. Will Borgen, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider put up a fight, but their efforts fell short as goaltender Anthony Stolarz stopped 27 shots to secure Toronto’s victory.
Avalanche 5, Senators 1
Colorado made quick work of Ottawa, scoring four first-period goals en route to a dominant win. Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar, and Joel Kiviranta led the charge.
Newly acquired Nelson bagged two goals, marking his first since joining the Avalanche. Ottawa’s lone goal came late in the game, ending Scott Wedgewood’s shutout bid. Linus Ullmark pulled after conceding four goals on 13 shots, had a night to forget as the Senators suffered their second consecutive defeat.
Flames 5, Devils 3
Calgary staged an impressive comeback in New Jersey, scoring four unanswered goals in the third period. Jonathan Huberdeau’s late strike sealed the win. Daniil Miromanov’s equalizer, followed by Nazem Kadri’s empty-net goal, capped off an emphatic road victory.
Blues 4, Canucks 3 (OT)
Philip Broberg played hero for St. Louis, scoring the game-winner in overtime. Tyler Tucker and Dylan Holloway struck back-to-back in the third period, helping the Blues leap ahead of Vancouver in the playoff race.
