Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin has led his team into the playoffs for the 16th time, a first since the league switched to a 16-team playoff format in 1979-80. In a crucial game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Ovechkin scored the opening goal and helped the Capitals secure a narrow victory.
The Capitals were outshot 16-2 in the third period but managed to hold on thanks to goalie Charlie Lindgren’s outstanding performance, which included 27 saves. Ovechkin praised Lindgren for his efforts, saying he “was outstanding” and that the team can’t play like that in the third period.
Ovechkin has now moved closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of most goals in a season, with 13 games remaining. His teammate Lindgren credited Ovechkin for generating scoring chances every game and said it was impressive to see him perform under pressure.
The win marked another milestone in Ovechkin’s career, as he scored his 888th goal, also his team-leading 35th of the season.
Source: https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-wayne-gretzky-record-chase-massive-benefit-for-washington-capitals-this-season