In Capitals’ 3-1 loss, Ovechkin reaches 30-goal milestone
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin reached 30 goals in a season for the 19th time in his 20-year NHL career, adding to the league record he set last season with his 18th.
The Washington Capitals captain notched his latest milestone goal Tuesday night at home against the Calgary Flames in a 3-1 loss. He beat Dan Vladar with a one-timer on the power play 4:52 into the third period, sending the crowd into chants of “Ovi! Ovi!”
“I was cheating a little bit, but there is a reason why he has so many goals like that,” Vladar said. “It’s going to be a story for my kids one day that a player like that scored on me, but obviously in that moment, you don’t appreciate it. I’m happy we just play twice against them.”
Ovechkin joined Teemu Selanne, Johnny Bucyk and Gordie Howe (who did it three times) as the only players in hockey history to score 30-plus goals in a season at age 39 or older.
“My linemates, teammates do a pretty good job finding me out there, and I just have to finish it up,” Ovechkin said.
Reaching the 30-goal mark in 42 games this season, according to ESPN Research, is the fifth-fewest games Ovechkin has needed to get there in his career. And he has now separated himself from the pack of 30-goal scorers on the NHL all-time list. Mike Gartner is in second place with 17 seasons, and Jaromir Jagr is third with 15.
Scoring his 883rd career goal also puts Ovechkin within 12 of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 that had long seemed unapproachable. Adding this to his hat trick Sunday against Edmonton, Ovechkin is now on pace to pass Gretzky in early April.
“He’s obviously doing such special things,” Calgary’s Matt Coronato said. “Obviously, when you’re competing against him, you don’t want to see it but definitely cool to watch all season long.”
Since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, Ovechkin has four goals in three games for the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals, who, despite Tuesday’s loss, are 4-2 in their past six games.
But the biggest winner of the night was Calgary, which moved into a playoff position in the Western Conference after goals by Coronato, Martin Pospisil and Jonathan Huberdeau. And Vladar made 26 saves for the Flames, who have won two in a row coming out of the league’s break.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Holding the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot entering Tuesday’s action, the Ottawa Senators might have their captain back Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets after Brady Tkachuk practiced briefly with his teammates.
Tkachuk, who told reporters his lower-body injury happened while playing for the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off, missed Saturday’s 5-2 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa’s fourth straight defeat.
“I’m feeling all right,” Tkachuk said after Tuesday’s practice. “I think it was just a smart decision to [sit out Saturday]. I didn’t feel like I had the pop, and I started to feel it a little bit. I’m still hopeful to play tomorrow, but I just need to make a smart decision. I definitely don’t want to reaggravate it and miss any more time.”
After skating on his own before practice, Tkachuk joined Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux for one line rush before exiting the ice. Ottawa’s leader said his early departure was planned.
“I’m just going to continue to do everything in my power to play tomorrow, and we’ll see how it goes the rest of the day today and tomorrow,” Tkachuk said. “Of course, I want to go to battle with these guys, but I think everybody in here and Sens fans, they don’t want to see something nagging … for the next 24, next 25 games. So maybe take the time for one more [game] just to be ready to go, but yeah, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Tkachuk, 25, leads the Senators this season with 21 goals in 56 games and is third in points with 44. In his seventh season in the NHL, he has reached 30 goals in each of the past three seasons, and posted a career-high 37 last season.
Out since Feb. 3 with an upper-body injury, Ottawa center Josh Norris skated in a regular jersey at Tuesday’s practice and practiced between Drake Batherson and David Perron on the second line. Coach Travis Green told reporters he’s “hopeful” Morris will return Wednesday.
Center Shane Pinto, out with an upper-body injury since Feb. 4, sported a noncontact jersey on the fourth line between Adam Gaudette and Matthew Highmore. Pinto is “closer than he was [Monday],” Green said.
Norris has 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 50 games this season, while Pinto has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 46 games.
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.
ESPN
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Alex Ovechkin scores 30 goals in a season for an NHL-record-extending 19th time in 20-year career
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin winds up for a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin reached 30 goals in a season for the 19th time in his 20-year NHL career, adding to the league record he set last season with his 18th.
The Washington Capitals captain got his latest milestone goal Tuesday night at home against the Calgary Flames. He beat Dan Vladar with a one-timer on the power play 4:52 into the third period, sending the crowd into chants of “Ovi! Ovi!”
“I was cheating a little bit, but there is a reason why he has so many goals like that,” Vladar said after backstopping the Flames to a 3-1 win that moved them into a playoff spot. “It’s going to be a story for my kids one day that a player like that scored on me, but obviously in that moment, you don’t appreciate it. I’m happy we just play twice against them.”
Ovechkin joined Teemu Selanne, Johnny Bucyk and Gordie Howe (who did it three times) as the only players in hockey history to score 30-plus goals in a season at age 39 or older.
“My linemates, teammates do a pretty good job finding me out there and I just have to finish it up,” Ovechkin said.
Scoring his 883rd career goal also puts Ovechkin 12 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 that had long seemed unapproachable. Adding this to his hat trick Sunday against Edmonton, Ovechkin is now on pace to pass Gretzky in early April long before the regular season is over.
“He’s obviously doing such special things,” said Calgary’s Matt Coronato, who also scored in the game. “Obviously when you’re competing against him, you don’t want to see it but definitely cool to watch all season long.”
Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson had ice bags on his right thigh and left foot and ankle after blocking eight shots — two of them Ovechkin’s.
“He’s on a great chase, and you’ve got to eat a few,” Andersson said. “That’s just the way the game went. Now it feels good.”
___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Flames hold off Ovechkin, Capitals to move into playoff spot in West
WASHINGTON — Matt Coronato scored to help the Calgary Flames beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 on Tuesday night, winning to move into a playoff spot despite Alex Ovechkin getting one step closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record.
Ovechkin beat Dan Vladar five minutes into the third period to score his 883rd goal and move 12 back of passing Gretzky’s mark of 894. It was also his 30th goal of the season, reaching that milestone for the 19th time in his 20 years in the league.
That came with the Capitals trailing 2-0, and they could not get any closer. Logan Thompson stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced. The top team in the Eastern Conference lost in regulation in Washington for the first time since Nov. 23, ending a 16-game home point streak.
Martin Pospisil and Jonathan Huberdeau also scored and Vladar made 26 saves for Calgary, which has won two in a row coming out of the league’s 4 Nations Face-Off break to leapfrog Pacific Division-rival Vancouver for the second and final wild card in the West.
Takeaways
Flames: Rasmus Andersson acknowledged earlier in the day it would “be a dogfight” down the stretch to get in. It will be, but the Flames play hard and that overcompensates for any talent disadvantage they may have against opponents further up the standings.
Capitals: They were due for a letdown after scoring 15 goals in two wins over the weekend.
Key moment
Coronato caught up to the puck and sniped a shot top-left corner on Thompson late in the first for his 15th goal of the season.
Key stat
Ovechkin is just the fourth player to score 30-plus goals in a season at age 39 or older.
Up next
The Flames visit Tampa Bay on Thursday, and the Capitals host St. Louis.
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