TORONTO -- The Washington Capitals made their return to the ice with captain Alex Ovechkin back from injury, leading them to a compelling 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 28, 2024. This matchup was not just any game; it marked Ovechkin's first appearance after being sidelined for 16 games due to a fractured fibula he sustained back on November 18.
The excitement surrounding Ovechkin's return was palpable, especially as he approached the significant milestone of 894 career goals set by Wayne Gretzky. With this goal, Ovechkin tallied his 869th, bringing him within just 26 of the all-time record. While the Capitals managed to navigate through Ovechkin's absence with a respectable 10-5-1 record, his presence was undoubtedly felt on the ice against the Maple Leafs.
The game began with the Leafs drawing first blood. Just 3:14 minutes in, veteran John Tavares found the back of the net, tipping Simon Benoit's shot from the left circle, putting Toronto up 1-0. This moment of triumph for the Leafs came at the expense of the Capitals, who, with exhaustion from their recent break, looked to find their footing.
But the Capitals responded swiftly. A mere 90 seconds later, Andrew Mangiapane carried the puck on a 2-on-1 rush, burying his shot past Matt Murray, leveling the score at 1-1. Jakob Chychrun then propelled the Capitals forward with a powerful slap shot from the right face-off circle at 8:54, giving Washington a 2-1 lead.
The second period saw the back-and-forth nature of the game continue. The Leafs' Bobby McMann tied it 2-2 at 8:10, jamming in his own rebound after a 2-on-1 with Max Domi. Yet, Washington quickly regained the lead just over 1 minute later when Nic Dowd scored after receiving Rasmus Sandin’s sharp pass, making it 3-2.
Both teams had their opportunities throughout the game, with Logan Thompson, Washington’s goaltender, turning aside 35 shots, halting numerous high-danger chances from the Leafs. Particularly notable were his two saves against William Nylander, with one coming from behind the crease where he remarkably managed to snag the puck just before it crossed the line.
The Capitals extended their lead with tenacity. Midway through the third period, Tom Wilson recorded Washington's first power-play goal at 12:36. A deflected shot from Chychrun saw the Capitals go up 4-2 and solidify their position as the crowd roared with approval.
Finally, Ovechkin sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 16:37, igniting jubilation among fans and capping off what had been both a sentimental and momentous return.
Postgame, Ovechkin reflected on his return: “I have to find a rhythm, feel the game and try to do little things, feel the puck,” he noted, emphasizing the adjustments after such a lengthy absence. His coach, Spencer Carbery, acknowledged the team's struggles at the beginning but recognized their resilience: “We scratched and clawed tonight; it was a little rusty, you could tell coming out of the break.”
The Maple Leafs' coach, Craig Berube, lamented their defensive mistakes and said, “Probably three mistakes in the game... played a pretty hard game, lot of opportunities, we didn’t finish.” It was evident Toronto had opportunities to capitalize but faltered, particularly with their special teams, failing to convert on power plays.
With Ovechkin once again donning his Capitals jersey, the team showed their fighting spirit, as Thompson proclaimed, “There’s no quit in this dressing room.
