Ben Green/NHLI via Getty Images
After a disappointing showing in their previous game against the St. Louis Blues, the Washington Capitals’ 4-3 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres was a welcome bounce-back performance for the Metropolitan Division’s fourth-placed team. The victory was aided by captain Alex Ovechkin, whose regulation goal sent the game to extra time.
Ovechkin, who entered the game against the Sabres with 40 goals on the season, scored his 41st of the 2021-22 campaign at the 16:47 mark of the third period, off a faceoff win by Evgeny Kuznetsov.
7️⃣7️⃣1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/ZkfDMoRmot
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 26, 2022
The goal marked Ovechkin’s 771st career goal, and put him within three points of 1,400 in his NHL career.
Alex Ovechkin ties the game 3-3 with his 41st goal of the season. He’s now three points shy of recording 1,400 career points (771g, 626a).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 26, 2022
With the two clubs unable to break the deadlock in overtime, the shootout was necessary for the decision. After winning a game for the Capitals in the skills competition a week ago, Ovechkin was sent out by Head Coach Peter Laviolette to attempt to repeat the feat against Buffalo goaltender Dustin Tokarski. Once more, the Capitals’ captain did not disappoint, returning to his backhand to seal the win for Washington.
NEVER A DOUBT
CAPS WIN #CapsSabres pic.twitter.com/KVOYTQKPiQ
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) March 26, 2022
The shootout, game-winning goal was Ovechkin’s 16th such tally in his 16-season career, which began in the 2005-06 season, the inaugural season of the shooutout. In that span, Ovechkin’s 16 are tied for ninth-most in the shooutout.
Ovechkin’s 16 game deciding goals are tied for the ninth most in the NHL since the League introduced the shootout in 2005-06.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 26, 2022
Ovechkin now has 41 goals and 36 assists, for 77 points in 64 Games Played this season.
By Michael Fleetwood
