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Ovechkin within 20 goals of Gretzky’s NHL record after scoring in Capitals’ win over Kraken

Seattle's Daccord makes 30 saves in goal

By ALLYSON BALLARD, Associated Press
Published: January 23, 2025, 10:15pm
3 Photos
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) hits the puck for an empty-goal score with Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (62), and center Matty Beniers (10) defending during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) hits the puck for an empty-goal score with Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (62), and center Matty Beniers (10) defending during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Photo Gallery

SEATTLE — Alex Ovechkin moved within 20 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record with an empty-netter, helping the Washington Capitals beat the Seattle Kraken 3-0 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.

Ovechkin scored his 22nd goal of the season to push his career total to 875. Gretzky scored 894 goals in the NHL.

Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves in his first start since Jan. 10 for his first shutout of the season — and the NHL-leading Capitals’ third in five games after Logan Thompson blanked Anaheim and Ottawa in consecutive games last week.

Aliaksei Protas and Ethen Frank also scored.

Joey Daccord made 30 saves for Seattle in his fifth straight start and 100th NHL game.

Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking the regular-season record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. He missed 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals’ first game out of the Christmas break.

Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Gordie Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.

Takeaways

Capitals: Trevor van Riemsdyk and Jakob Chychrun assisted on Ovechkin’s empty-net goal with 3:28 left. … Pierre-Luc Dubois extended his point streak to three games with an assist.

Kraken: Seattle has been shut out six times this season.

Key moment

With 16 seconds remaining in the second period, Lindgren stopped Oliver Bjorkstrand on a breakaway.

Up next

The Kraken host Pittsburgh on Saturday.

___

CAPITALS 3, KRAKEN 0

Washington 0 2 1 3
Seattle 0 0 0 0

First Period—None. Penalties—None.

Second Period—1, Washington, Frank 3, 18:05. Penalties—Raddysh, WSH (Tripping), 13:12.

Third Period—2, Washington, Ovechkin 22 (Chychrun, van Riemsdyk), 16:32 (en). Penalties—None.

Shots on Goal—Washington 15-9-8—32. Seattle 9-4-9—22.

Power-play opportunities—Washington 0 of 0; Seattle 0 of 1.

Goalies—Washington, Lindgren 11-8-2 (22 shots-22 saves). Seattle, Daccord 16-11-2 (31-29).

A—17,151 (17,100). T—2:28.

Referees—Frederick L’Ecuyer, Brandon Schrader. Linesmen—Mitch Hunt, Bryan Pancich.

 

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