The Washington Capitals secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 5-4 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The game marked Alex Ovechkin’s return to Capital One Arena after scoring his 895th career goal, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record on Sunday at the New York Islanders.
A pregame ceremony honored Ovechkin, who was treated to gifts including an engraved gold stick and a 6-foot sculptural painting of a puck with his image. The ceremony included a team photo and handshakes from the opposing team.
In the game, Pierre-Luc Dubois scored the shootout winner after the Capitals rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Charlie Lindgren made 31 saves despite suffering a nasty collision seven minutes into the game. Dylan Strome, Nic Dowd, and Tom Wilson each scored in regulation, while Frederik Andersen allowed four goals on 28 shots.
The Hurricanes, locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division, lost their fourth consecutive overtime game. Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake also scored, but the Capitals’ winning streak continues as they celebrate Ovechkin’s record-breaking achievement.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/44624116/capitals-celebrate-alex-ovechkin-record-wrap-top-seed