Alex Ovechkin is starting to heat up again.
The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer has tallied in back-to-back games and three times in his last four contests for the Washington Capitals.
Fresh off recording his 903rd career NHL goal, Ovechkin will look to continue his good fortune on Wednesday when the Capitals host fellow superstar captain Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
Ovechkin scored what proved to be his 150th game-winning goal in the regular season and playoffs combined on Monday to fuel Washington to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient is one shy from tying Jaromir Jagr for the most game-winning goals in NHL history.
Ovechkin’s goal on Monday also was his 442nd at Capital One Arena, pushing him past Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for the most regular-season tallies at a single venue in NHL history. Howe, the long-time Red Wing, scored 441 at Detroit Olympia.
Ovechkin has scored a goal in each of his last three home games and has totaled eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last seven contests overall.
Defenseman Matt Roy scored a goal and Charlie Lindgren made 30 saves for the Capitals, who recorded just their third win in their last 11 games (3-6-2).
“You could tell we’re looking for good things to happen, not only as a team, but individually,” Washington head coach Spencer Carbery said. “When you’re searching for that – anything positive – winning a game like this, it just builds. It builds momentum for us, it builds confidence, and that’s really, really important.”
Consider Edmonton as a team in search of a pick-me-up after it fell to 2-2-0 on its seven-game road trip following a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
Jack Roslovic extended his point streak to five games (four goals, three assists) after scoring early in the second period.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have Jack on the team and he’s providing a lot, pushing the pace, being able to just carry the puck into the zone,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “Obviously, the goals, he’s had many of those (seven). He’s been a nice addition. We’d like to get some more contributions from throughout our lineup, but Jack has been a good player for us.”
McDavid, the NHL leader in assists (21) entering play on Tuesday, saw his eight-game point streak (six goals, 10 assists) come to an end. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient was knocked face-first into the boards by Peyton Krebs, an action that prompted Vasily Podkolzin to step up to the Buffalo forward later in the contest.
Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to three games (three goals, three assists) after setting up Roslovic’s tally.
That about sums up the bright spots for an Oilers team that has lost five of its last eight games (3-4-1) and looks light years away from being the Western Conference’s representative in the Stanley Cup in each of the last two years.
So, what’s wrong?
“It’s hard to say right now,” Podkolzin said, per the Edmonton Journal. “But we better figure it out, how to win games, as soon as possible because we’re not happy with what’s going on right now.”
