WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored the 877th goal of his career to move 18 away from breaking the NHL record, but the Washington Capitals lost 5-4 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night in a showdown of the top two teams in the NHL that lived up to that billing.
Ovechkin tied the score with 7:39 left, setting off “Ovi! Ovi!” chants from a sellout crowd. His 24th goal of the season keeps him on pace to challenge Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 this spring.
Josh Morrissey scored his second goal of the game 1:57 into 3-on-3 OT to extend the Jets' winning streak to six games.
Cole Perfetti, Dylan Samberg and Alex Iafallo also scored in regulation for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 of the 29 shots he faced to pick up his 33rd win and stay on pace to break the single-season record of 48 shared by Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur and Capitals Stanley Cup champion Braden Holtby.
Washington lost back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 16 and 17, despite the goals from Ovechkin, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Taylor Raddysh and Tom Wilson. Logan Thompson made 25 saves.
Jets: First-year coach Scott Arniel won't be happy about blowing a two-goal third-period lead, but his team found a way to get things done.
Capitals: They hung with the best in the Western Conference by responding each time it looked like the game was getting out of reach.
A give and go between Mark Scheifele and Morrissey made it almost impossible for Thompson to stop the overtime winner.
Ovechkin has scored 56 goals in 74 games against the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, the most of any opponent.
Jets return home to face Carolina on Tuesday, the same night the Capitals host defending Stanley Cup champion Florida.
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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
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