On March 9, 2025, the Washington Capitals showcased their dominance over the Seattle Kraken with a decisive 4-2 victory at Capital One Arena, marking their fourth straight win. This triumph solidified their standing as eastern conference leaders, boosting their impressive season record to 42-14-8, allowing them to surpass last season’s total points by one.
The Capitals' captain, Alex Ovechkin, was the highlight of the game, scoring his 886th career goal and reaching 1,600 career points. With this goal, Ovechkin moved within nine of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record, elevatng the spirits of fans who celebrated his remarkable achievements with chants of "Ovi! Ovi!" as he backhanded the puck from center ice with just 1:31 left on the clock.
The game kicked off with the Kraken drawing first blood at 12:57 of the first period. Rookie sensation Shane Wright netted his 15th goal of the season, receiving assistance from Andre Burakovsky and Adam Larsson. The Kraken were relentless, leading the Capitals 24-10 in shot attempts during the first frame. Despite the Capitals’ sluggish start, the period ended with a score of 1-0, leaving the home team searching for answers.
Coming out strong after the first intermission, the Capitals found their rhythm when Martin Fehervary equalized just 35 seconds following the faceoff. With helpers from Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael, Fehervary's blast signaled the starting point for the Capitals' resurgence. This goal was notable not only as his fourth of the season but also marked McMichael's 100th point overall in the NHL.
Only moments later, the Capitals grabbed their first lead following Dylan Strome's goal at 2:51 of the second period—a shot punctuated by the exhilarating celebration of reaching his halfway mark of 500 career games. This goal came courtesy of assists from Rasmus Sandin and John Carlson.
Yet, the Kraken were unfazed. They countered with Jordan Eberle scoring their second goal at 7:23, leveling the game once more at 2-2. Eberle's strike was made possible from Chandler Stephenson’s superb assist, marking Eberle's own seventh goal of the season.
With the evening growing more pivotal, it was Connor McMichael who took charge late, redirecting John Carlson’s pass to net his 23rd goal at 15:44 of the third period, once again lifting the Capitals to lead 3-2. The atmosphere charged as the clock ticked down, and the fans roared with excitement.
Finally, fittingly capping the night, Ovechkin sealed the deal with his empty-net goal; it was the icing on the cake for the Capitals, finalizing the score at 4-2. His 886 goals now stand as the most by any player at the moment of scoring their 1,600th point, placing him alongside elite territory within NHL history.
Ovechkin’s performance reinforces his role as not just the team leader, but as one of hockey’s living legends. The fans are left wondering just how soon he will break Gretzky’s record. His achievements serve as both aspiration and inspiration to the Capitals, who are clearly hitting their stride as the playoffs approach.
With this performance, the Capitals are not just maintaining their winning streak; they are pushing the limits of what this season could achieve. Fans are eager to see how their team will continue to perform as they head toward the final stretch of the NHL season.