Alex Ovechkin scores his 872nd career goal as the Capitals beat the struggling Rangers 7-4
Alex Ovechkin scores his 872nd career goal as the Capitals beat the struggling Rangers 7-4
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with left wing Alex Ovechkin after scoring a goal in the third period goal of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, scores a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, center, celebrates his goal with his teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, works his way out of the net after a pile up against the New York Rangers during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson, left, takes a shot as New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, left, defends against Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, right, clears the puck away from Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) in front of a pile up at the Rangers’ net during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana, right, reaches to control the puck against New York Rangers center Sam Carrick (39) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) bats the puck away from New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) loses control of the puck against Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with left wing Alex Ovechkin after scoring a goal in the third period goal of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with left wing Alex Ovechkin after scoring a goal in the third period goal of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, scores a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, scores a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, center, celebrates his goal with his teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, center, celebrates his goal with his teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, works his way out of the net after a pile up against the New York Rangers during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, works his way out of the net after a pile up against the New York Rangers during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson, left, takes a shot as New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson, left, takes a shot as New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, left, defends against Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, left, defends against Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, right, clears the puck away from Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) in front of a pile up at the Rangers’ net during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, right, clears the puck away from Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) in front of a pile up at the Rangers’ net during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana, right, reaches to control the puck against New York Rangers center Sam Carrick (39) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana, right, reaches to control the puck against New York Rangers center Sam Carrick (39) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) bats the puck away from New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) bats the puck away from New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) loses control of the puck against Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) loses control of the puck against Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored his 872nd career goal to move 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, and the Washington Capitals beat the struggling New York Rangers 7-4 Saturday.
Ovechkin has four goals in five games since returning from missing the previous 16 because of a broken left leg. The 39-year-old has 19 goals this season and is on pace to pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 this spring.
Dylan Strome, Lars Eller, Andrew Mangiapane, Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas also scored against Jonathan Quick, who remains stuck on 399 career wins. Tom Wilson sealed it with an empty-netter with 37.5 seconds left, and Logan Thompson made 28 saves to compensate for giving the puck away to Chris Kreider for his goal into a wide-open net.
Sam Carrick also got a goal off a turnover by Ovechkin and Filip Chytil and Mika Zibanejad scored in the third period to make things interesting. Quick allowed six goals on 27 shots as the Rangers lost for a 16th time in 21 games to sink from solidly in a playoff to tied for last place.
Takeaways
Rangers: After showing life Thursday by beating Boston to end a four-game skid, they were back to their sloppy, inconsistent play. Peter Laviolette’s job is in jeopardy even if his coaching is hardly to blame for so many top players underachieving.
Capitals: They didn’t play their best, and they’re in a bit of a midseason lull, but they keep winning.
Key moment
Less than a minute after Zibanejad scored to cut Washington’s lead to 5-4 with 6:56 left, Protas restored the two-goal lead following his shot off the right post to the crease and putting the puck in.
Key stat
With two power-play goals, the Capitals have scored seven in seven games.
Up next
The Rangers play at Chicago on Sunday afternoon, while the Capitals visit Buffalo on Monday night.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl