Capitals Hold On To Down Flyers, 3-2; Alex Ovechkin Scores Career Goal 888

by

Photo: @NHLPR

Alex Ovechkin notched his 888th career goal as the Washington Capitals downed the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, Thursday night at Capital One Arena in the District. The victory improves the Capitals’ record to 46-15-8 (100 points) on the season. The Capitals have earned 100 or more points in 10 of the last 14 82-game seasons, which is tied with the Boston Bruins for the most 100-point seasons during that span.

LINEUP

Charlie Lindgren (15-11-3, 2.65 GAA, .899 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Sam Ersson (19-13-4, 3.02 GAA, .886 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Flyers. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Tom Wilson
Connor McMichael — Pierre-Luc Dubois — Aliaksei Protas
Andrew Mangiapane – Lars Eller — Taylor Raddysh
Brandon Duhaime — Nic Dowd — Anthony Beauvillier

Rasmus Sandin — John Carlson
Martin Fehervary — Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun — Trevor Van Riemsdyk

Charlie Lindgren
Logan Thompson

Scratched: Ethen Frank, Alex Alexeyev, Dylan McIlrath.

Injured: Sonny Milano (upper-body), Nicklas Backstrom (hip), T.J. Oshie (back).

1ST PERIOD

The Capitals opened the scoring on a tally from Alex Ovechkin at 14:25 of the first period. Aliaksei Protas (33) and Trevor van Riemsdyk (17) had the helpers. It marks Ovechkin’s 888th career goal and 35th goal in 53 games this season (0.66 G/GP). Ovechkin has scored 13 goals in his last 19 games.

Ovechkin, who ranks tied for fourth in the NHL in goals this season at age 39, has scored 182 in goals in 327 games since turning 35. Ovechkin’s 0.56 goals-per-game rate among players age 35 or older is the highest in NHL history.

And that was it for the first frame. Five-on-five shot attempts were tied 13-13. The Flyers led in expected goals for, 0.69 to 0.51.

2ND PERIOD

The Capitals extended their lead to 2-0 early in the middle frame on shot from the top of the right circle by Matt Roy that was deflected by Brandon Duhaime (8) at 1:56. Roy (20) and Anthony Beauvillier (8) had the assists.

The Capitals added to their lead on Andrew Mangiapane’s 12th goal of the season at 11:06 off the middle frame. Anthony Beauvillier (9) had the lone helper.

The Capitals held the 3-0 lead into the second intermission. The Capitals led in five-on-five shot attempts, 15-7, and expected goals for, 0.48 to 0.28.

3RD PERIOD

The Flyers dominated the third period.

The Flyers got on the board early in the final frame on Ryan Poehling’s 6th goal of the season at 5:10. The goal was unassisted.

The Flyers closed the gap to a single goal on a gritty goal from Sean Couturier (11) at 17:24. R. Poehling (13) and O. Tippett (18) had the assists.

The Capitals held on for the scant 3-2 win.

With their 3-2 win tonight vs. Philadelphia, the Capitals (46-15-8, 100 points) are the first team to reach the 100-point mark this season. Washington has matched the second-fewest games needed to hit the century mark in franchise history (2015-16: 65 GP; 2009-10: 69 GP).

SHAVINGS

  • Aliaksei Protas recorded the primary assist on Ovechkin’s game-opening goal, extending his point streak to three games (1g-3a–4p). Protas ranks fourth in the NHL in five-on-five points (20g-27a–47p), trailing only Leon Draisaitl (52), David Pastrnak (49) and Sidney Crosby (48).
  • Trevor van Riemsdyk recorded his 17th assist of the season on Ovechkin’s first period goal. With the assist, van Riemsdyk has established a new single-season career high in assists (previously 2022-23 and 2021-22: 16a).
  • Matt Roy recorded the primary assist on Duhaime’s goal, his 20th assist of the season. Roy has matched his career high in assists, which he set last season with Los Angeles (20a in 81 GP).
  • Anthony Beauvillier recorded the secondary assist on Duhaime’s goal, his eighth assist of the season and second point as a Capital. Beauvillier’s 22 points (13g, 9a) in 33 career games vs. Philadelphia are the second most he has against a single franchise (26p in 34 GP vs. NYR).
  • Anthony Beauvillier tallied his second assist of the second period on Mangiapane’s goal. It marks Beauvillier’s first multi-assist performance of the season and the 16th of his career.

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.

Leave a Comment