Ovechkin scores 878th career goal into empty net with 0.1 seconds left as Capitals beat Panthers 6-3

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his empty net goal with defenseman Matt Roy (3) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals left wing Andrew Mangiapane (88) celebrates his goal with defensemen John Carlson, right, and Rasmus Sandin, second from left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson, center, celebrates his goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and center Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky sprays his face during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) and Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) battles for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) skates with the puck past Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, right, scores a goal past Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, back, shoots the puck past Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks back at a puck shot by Washington Capitals left wing Andrew Mangiapane for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) shoots the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

By STEPHEN WHYNO

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net with 0.1 seconds left on the clock to move closer to Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career record, and the Washington Capitals defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Ovechkin’s goal puts him 17 away from breaking Gretzky’s mark of 894 that once seemed unapproachable. The Capitals have 29 games left for him to get to 895 or beyond this season, though he does have another year left on his contract.

Andrew Mangiapane, Tom Wilson, Lars Eller and Nic Dowd scored on two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, and Aliaksei Protas also had an empty-netter. Logan Thompson, among the current contenders for the award, stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced to help Washington avoid losing three in a row.

Florida’s winning streak ended at three despite goals from Sam Bennett, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk and 21 saves by Bobrovsky.

Takeaways

Panthers: There were flashes of brilliance throughout, including Barkov outmuscling Washington’s Jakob Chychrun on his goal in the second, but it wasn’t enough for the reigning champs to keep their roll going.

Capitals: They looked flat early, found their game and again got depth scoring, including Wilson’s shorthanded goal on a 2-on-1 rush from Protas.

Key moment

Early in the third period, Eller outmaneuvered Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and roofed a shot past Bobrovsky to end a 10-game goal drought. It was Eller’s ninth this season and fifth in his career against the goalie known as “Bob,” counting playoffs. Dowd scored the insurance goal, and what turned out to be the game-winner, a few minutes later.

Key stat

Protas and Wilson are tied for second behind Ovechkin on the team goal-scoring list at 22 apiece.

Up Next

Panthers visit St. Louis on Thursday, the same night the Capitals play at Philadelphia.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL