Washington Capitals' left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scored past Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during the first period of their NHL game on Tuesday night in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Alex Ovechkin inched closer to history on Tuesday night, scoring his 891st career goal as the Washington Capitals secured a hard-fought 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins. Dylan Strome sealed the victory with a decisive third-period goal, ending the Capitals’ three-game skid.
Ovechkin, now just four goals away from surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record, gave Washington an early 2-0 advantage, tapping in a sharp cross-crease pass from Strome. The veteran forward, who has found the net 12 times in his last 18 games, had another chance in the final minutes but missed an empty net.
Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson also contributed goals for the Capitals, while goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 21 saves to help Washington maintain its position atop the Eastern Conference.
Boston, struggling with form, suffered its ninth consecutive loss despite David Pastrnak’s two-goal performance. Vinni Lettieri also scored for the Bruins, and Jeremy Swayman managed 27 saves but couldn’t stop Washington’s relentless attack.
Suzuki Lifts Canadiens Over Panthers in Overtime Thriller
Montreal’s Nick Suzuki delivered a last-second equalizer before sealing the win in overtime, leading the Canadiens to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers.
With just 8.4 seconds left in regulation, Suzuki found the net to tie the game, then struck again just 29 seconds into overtime. Josh Anderson also scored for Montreal, while Sam Montembeault turned away 25 shots.
Sabres Sweep Season Series Against Senators
Buffalo dominated Ottawa all season, and Tuesday was no different. Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch both had a goal and an assist, leading the Sabres to a commanding 5-2 win. The Sabres outscored the Senators 17-5 across their four meetings this season.
Ottawa, missing captain Brady Tkachuk due to injury, struggled to keep up. Linus Ullmark’s costly rebound led to an easy tap-in goal for Tuch, setting the tone for Buffalo’s strong start.
Marchenko’s Hat Trick Propels Blue Jackets Past Predators
Kirill Marchenko’s third career hat trick powered Columbus to an 8-4 victory over Nashville. Sean Monahan added two goals and two assists, while goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped 24 shots. Nashville’s Juuse Saros had a rough night, allowing seven goals before being replaced in the third period.
Lightning Keep Playoff Push Alive With Win Over Islanders
Tampa Bay edged closer to a postseason berth, securing a 4-1 win over New York. Jake Guentzel led the charge with a goal and an assist, while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots. The Islanders, on a six-game skid, saw their playoff hopes fade further despite Bo Horvat’s short-handed goal.
Kings Stun NHL-Leading Jets
Los Angeles flexed its defensive strength, defeating top-ranked Winnipeg 4-1. Andrei Kuzmenko, Adrian Kempe, and captain Anze Kopitar each had a goal and an assist. The Kings moved ahead of Edmonton in the Pacific Division standings, while Winnipeg’s three-game win streak came to an end.
