OTTAWA – Alexander Ovechkin may not have joined Gordie Howe with his 801st goal, but he still has every reason to smile.
Marcus Johansson moved the ropes after 2:04 of play in overtime and the Capitals de Washington defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Thursday.
Evgeny Kuznetsov et Sonny Milano also scored for the Capitals. Darcy Kuemper stopped 23 shots in his first start since suffering an upper-body injury on Dec. 3.
“I had good chances from my first appearance on the ice. I just have to persevere. It will unlock with the next goal,” mentioned “Ovie” after the match.
Alex DeBrincat et Drake Batherson replied for the Senators, who suffered a third straight loss. Cam Talbot stopped 37 shots.
Ovechkin had two assists. He was, however, unable to score in a fourth consecutive game and remained one goal behind Gordie Howe and the second-highest scorer in NHL history.
“I’m sure he’s thinking about the record. He does his best to score. It just won’t fit right now. He will get it sooner or later,” summed up his compatriot Kuznetsov.
However, his six shots on goal allowed him to surpass Raymond Bourque for first place in league history, with 6,210.
“It’s special to be in the very first row of a category, it doesn’t matter which one. I am happy. I am proud of this record. »
Batherson tied the game 2-2 on the power play with 3:04 left in the third period. He thus extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one point to 10.
Ovechkin looked like he might have scored his 801st career goal when the puck crossed the goal line at 5:25 of the second period. However, the replays confirmed that Milano touched the puck at the last moment, giving the Capitals a 2-1 lead.
Kuznetsov tied the game at 1-1 on a pass from Ovechkin on the power play after 7:01 of play in the first period.
DeBrincat kicked off the game after 4:50, deflecting a shot from Nick Holden to score his 10th goal of the season.
The Senators lost forwards Tyler Motte and Rourke Chartier in the first period. Both suffered upper body injuries and did not return to action afterwards.
Tim Stützle, however, was back in action for the Senators after missing four games with a shoulder injury.
The Capitals will play their last game before Christmas on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Ovechkin scored his 797th goal on December 11 against those same Jets.