Coming into Tuesday night’s contest, the Capitals were one point behind the Detroit Red Wings and needed a win to move ahead of them, which they did with a 2-1 victory.
Washington’s win helped snap a six-game losing skid, as the team gained two points to move into the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The Caps’ two goals came late in the second period, as Dylan Strome scored his 27th goal of the season with 2:13 left in the period, and Alex Ovechkin scored with 7.2 seconds before the intermission.
That late-period Ovechkin goal now gives him 30 on the season and 852 for his career. He is also now the first player in NHL history to record 18 seasons with at least 30 goals.
Ovechkin is also now just the sixth different player in NHL history to begin a season at age 38 or older and score 30 goals, joining Gordie Howe (3x), Johnny Bucyk (2x), Brett Hull, Teemu Selanne, and Martin St. Louis.
Charlie Lindgren was also incredible in net as he made 43 saves, with the one goal he allowed coming at the very end of the game from Patrick Kane of the Red Wings.
