Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky in another historic NHL record originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It’s no surprise that Alex Ovechkin still remains to be one of the top leaders in the NHL. The Washington Capitals star has definitely seen some better years but this season has been quite amazing for him. He is still breaking records that Wayne Gretzky used to hold and the 40-year-old just notched another one when they went up against the New York Islanders.
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Ovi helps bury the Islanders
The Capitals veteran delivered an assist to Anthony Beauvillier at 6:00 mark of the second period. While this got Washington the lead over the Islanders, it was also Ovechkin’s 1,370th point for the franchise. He overtakes Gretzky for fifth on the all-time record who only had 1,669 points with the Edmonton Oilers, per Harvey Valentine of NHL.com.
After that, the Islanders could not find a way to score anymore. Nic Dowd and John Carlson both found the back of the net in the period to seal the game. Furthermore, the Capitals are now just five points away from usurping the Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for the second best record in the Metropolitan Division.
While they still have games against the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators before the Olympic break, Coach Spencer Carbery is clearly over the moon with how great the team has been playing. They got a three-game win streak and can extend to five in the coming days. He even has the post-break plan laid out already so that they’ll maintain momentum.
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“Our urgency level hasn’t been higher this year. I think through this last stretch, guys understand that essentially our season’s on the line and our playoff lives are on the line. Once you get back after the break, you’re ten points back, you’ve got to go on like an 18-2 rip,” the Capitals coach said.
The tides of fate are shifting towards the Capitals. Can Ovechkin help them ride this momentum further?
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