Alex Ovechkin is hoping the third time is the charm in pursuit of his 900th career NHL goal.
Ovechkin reached one of two milestones after recording a goal and an assist on Oct. 24 in Columbus. The three-time Hart Trophy winner was held off the scoresheet in consecutive games before the Washington Capitals’ home game against the New York Islanders on Friday.
Ovechkin tormented the Islanders for years, recording 71 points (45 goals, 26 assists) in 74 career games. He recorded an assist in the Capitals’ 4-2 road win over the Islanders on October 11.
In addition to his 900th goal overall, Ovechkin is aiming for the 127th goal of the month of October on Friday. If he does, he would break a tie with Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for the most career goals in October in NHL history.
Ovechkin and company failed to solve the Stars’ Jake Oettinger problem Tuesday, when Washington lost its second straight decision with a 1-0 loss to Dallas.
“I think a lot of what we did for most of the game, especially in the second and third period, I think we did a lot of good things,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “(We) controlled the game, had the majority of the looks, but we just couldn’t convert them (Tuesday). So you can’t be upset or disappointed with the process. The process was good. We just couldn’t finish.”
Washington didn’t have that problem in its previous meeting against the Islanders, with Aliaksei Protas recording two goals and an assist and Logan Thompson making 34 saves earlier this month.
Capitals forward Dylan Strome and defenseman Rasmus Sandin, who did not get on the scoresheet in this game, could return to action after practicing Friday. Strome suffered a lower-body injury in the Capitals’ 7-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, while Sandin was out three games with an upper-body injury.
“It was a good step, and I’ll talk to (head athletic trainer Jason Serbus) and we’ll see where they’re at for the weekend,” Carbery said of Strome and Sandin.
New York finds itself mired in its second three-game losing streak of the young season after falling 6-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his third goal of the season on Thursday. The first overall pick in the 2025 draft, Schaefer scored his first career goal in the previous game against Washington.
Simon Holmstrom scored his third goal in four games Thursday for the Islanders, who were playing without Mathew Barzal. The latter was dismissed for disciplinary reasons after being late for morning practice at the rink.
“It’s the culture of our team. We made the decision not to play him (Thursday),” said coach Patrick Roy. “Barzy doesn’t feel good, but you respect the decision. He understands it. He was really good about it.”
Barzal will be back in action Friday, according to Roy.
–Field level media
