Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Multi-category four-game streak
Rotowire
Ovechkin scored a goal in Thursday's 4-3 win against the Flyers. It was goal 879 of his career.
He snapped a shot past Ivan Fedotov, going far side from the right circle in the last minute of the first period. Ovechkin is now 16 goals to 895 and overtaking Wayne Gretzky for the most career NHL goals. He has a goal in each of his last four games (six points) and 26 snipes on the season. He also has 12 hits and 14 shots in that span. Ovechkin's longevity is impressive. He's delivering yet another point-per-game pace (40 in 38 games), and he's on his best goal pace in several seasons. Gretzky's record is within reach in 2024-25.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Reaches 25-goal mark
Rotowire
Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal on three shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Panthers.
Ovechkin scored for the third game in a row, and he has five points in that span. This was his 25th goal of the campaign, and that's a mark he's reached in 19 seasons -- one campaign fewer than the record-holder, Gordie Howe. The only year Ovechkin's missed that threshold was the shortened 2020-21 season. He's now at 39 points, 135 shots on net, 68 hits and a plus-17 rating through 37 appearances after putting away goal No. 878.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Scores again Saturday
Rotowire
Ovechkin scored a goal on two shots and added five hits in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Jets.
Ovechkin's tally in the third period was ultimately the one that forced overtime. The 39-year-old has five goals and three helpers over his last 10 contests. The superstar winger is at 24 goals, 38 points, 132 shots on net, 66 hits and a plus-15 rating through 36 outings this season. His tally Saturday was the 877th of his career, putting him 17 away from tying and 18 away from passing Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Notches three points
Rotowire
Ovechkin registered a goal, two assists, two power-play points and added seven shots during Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Senators.
Ovechkin now sits just 19 goals away from the all-time record for goals scored in the NHL. The chase for history aside, Ovechkin's 23 goals and 37 points in 35 games to start his 20th NHL season is a remarkable achievement in and of itself and keeps him entrenched as a must-start in any fantasy format.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Fills empty cage
Rotowire
Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal on two shots and added two blocked shots in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Kraken.
This was his 875th career goal, moving Ovechkin to 20 tallies away from holding the all-time record. He had been held off the scoresheet in the previous two contests, but he has five goals and two assists over 11 outings in January. The winger is up to 22 goals, 34 points, 112 shots on net, 59 hits and a plus-16 rating through 32 appearances. Ovechkin's 15:24 of ice time was his lowest in a game since his first game back from a broken fibula, but it's possible he was just given some extra rest with the Kraken failing to put up much of a challenge.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Notches another milestone
Rotowire
Ovechkin supplied the game-winning goal and added three shots during Thursday's 1-0 win over the Senators.
In addition to notching career goal 874, Ovechkin's overtime tally against Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen marks the 179th different goaltender that the "Great 8" has scored against, a new NHL record. The 39-year-old is up to 21 goals and 33 points in 29 games.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Moves closer to Gretzky's record
Rotowire
Ovechkin netted a goal on two shots and added a helper in Saturday's 4-1 win over Nashville.
Ovechkin registered the secondary assist on Tom Wilson's power-play tally to open the scoring in the middle frame, and he sealed the win with an empty-net tally. The 39-year-old snapped a three-game dry spell with his two-point effort Saturday. Ovechkin is now 22 markers away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals with 39 games remaining in 2024-25. The Russian winger is up to 20 goals, 32 points and a plus-13 rating through 27 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Stays sizzling
Rotowire
Ovechkin tallied a goal, an assist and added seven shots during Saturday's 7-4 win over the Rangers.
Ovechkin is now 23 goals away from Wayne Gretzky for the all-time NHL goal-scoring record after notching his fourth goal in five games since returning from a broken fibula. The 39-year-old Ovechkin has been lighting the lamp at the highest rate of his NHL career and is a must-start every time he takes the ice.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Tickles twine on power play
Rotowire
Ovechkin scored his 18th goal of the season, fifth on the man advantage, in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to Minnesota.
Ovechkin scored his third goal in four games since returning from a fractured fibula Dec. 28. The right-shot sniper's marker Thursday was his 871st of his NHL career -- Ovi is now just 24 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record. The Capitals have 44 games remaining in 2024-25, and considering Ovechkin's ability to score in bunches, it wouldn't be surprising to see the 39-year-old score a record-setting 895th career goal this season. Even after missing 16 games, the three-time Hart Trophy winner leads the Capitals with 18 goals, and he's added 10 helpers and a plus-14 rating through 22 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Scores again Sunday
Rotowire
Ovechkin scored a goal on eight shots in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Red Wings.
Ovechkin has two goals across two games since he returned from a fractured fibula. The superstar winger logged 20:22 of ice time Sunday, so it appears he's back up to full speed after being eased into action Saturday in Toronto. Ovechkin has 17 goals, 27 points, 74 shots on net, 48 hits and a plus-16 rating through 20 appearances. He doesn't appear to have missed a beat during his absence, so fantasy managers shouldn't hesitate to have him active every time the Capitals take the ice.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Chase back on with empty-netter
Rotowire
Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal on three shots and added three hits in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs.
Ovechkin missed 16 games with a fractured fibula and was eased back in with just 14:58 of ice time Saturday. That didn't stop him from depositing an empty-netter at 16:37 of the third period to secure the win. The 39-year-old is at 16 goals, 26 points, 66 shots on net, 47 hits and a plus-15 rating through 19 appearances this season. Ovechkin is 26 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky on the all-time list, and if he can shake off the rust quickly, Capitals fans are in for a fun second half of the season as he continues his pursuit.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Ready to rock
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibula) will be activated from injured reserve ahead of his return to the lineup against Toronto on Saturday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Ovechkin will skate on the top line and work on the first power-play unit after missing the last 16 games. He has amassed 15 goals, 25 points, 44 hits and 63 shots on net across 18 appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Leaning toward playing Saturday
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibua) is likely to return Saturday against Toronto, Kristen Shilton of ESPN reports.
Ovechkin, who missed Washington's last 16 games after suffering a fibula fracture, believes he will be ready to play. The future hall-of-famer tallied 18 goals and 25 points in just 15 games before the injury. Ovechkin should return to his usual spot on the Caps' top line.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Practicing on top line
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibula) is practicing in his regular spot on the top line Friday, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
He has missed 16 games since breaking his fibula against Utah on Nov. 18. Ovechkin could be back alongside Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas on Saturday. The Capitals will activate Ovechkin from injured reserve if the team decides he is ready to return to the lineup. He had a league-leading 15 goals in 18 games before his injury.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Won't return before Christmas
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibula) has been cleared for contact but won't be available until after the NHL's Christmas break, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports Friday.
Ovechkin skating in a regular sweater at Friday's practice session led to some speculation he might be ready to play either Sunday or Monday against the Kings or Bruins, respectively. Unfortunately, fans and fantasy players alike will have to wait until Dec. 28 against the Maple Leafs, at the earliest, for the world-class sniper's return to action.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Sheds non-contact sweater
Rotowire
Ovechkin (lower leg), who has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Hurricanes, donned a regular jersey during the Capitals' morning skate Friday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Head coach Spencer Carbery said Thursday that Ovechkin would be unavailable against Carolina, but Friday marked the first time that the 39-year-old has practiced in a regular jersey since fracturing his fibula in mid-November. Although the league's Christmas break is looming, Ovechkin will presumably be in the mix to return Sunday against the Kings or Monday against Boston if he feels good following Friday's workload.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Return seems imminent
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibula) won't play in Friday's matchup with Carolina but hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Kings or Monday's matchup against Boston, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Ovechkin will be shelved for his 14th consecutive contest after suffering his broken fibula. Prior to his absence, the veteran winger had racked up 15 goals over 18 outings this season as he continues his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's 894 goals. Once cleared to play, Ovechkin will retake his spot on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Still in non-contact jersey
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibula) remains in a non-contact jersey at practice Thursday, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
Ovechkin has practiced without contact for five days, and while he is inching closer to a return, it's beginning to look like he'll have to wait until after the Christmas break before he's in the mix to return to game action. Ovechkin has missed the last 13 games with his broken leg. He was off to a strong start this season with 15 goals and 10 assists over 18 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Practicing in non-contact jersey
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibula) participated at practice Saturday in a non-contact jersey, per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News.
Ovechkin is progressing after suffering a broken fibula against Utah on Nov. 18. He took part in some drills before leaving early. Ovechkin's timeline hasn't changed, meaning he won't return until the end of December or early January. Before he was injured, Ovechkin had an NHL-high 15 goals in 18 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin: Skating on his own
Rotowire
Ovechkin (fibula) is skating on his own in a non-contact jersey, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports Wednesday.
This doesn't change Ovechkin's return timeline, but it's encouraging to see him take his first strides in his recovery. The 39-year-old winger will likely still be out until the second half of December at the earliest. He'll continue to log individual skating sessions until he is cleared to join the full team in practice.