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Capitals' Alex Ovechkin Voices Concerns Amid Worrying Trend

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Mar 31, 2025 7:00 AM ET

Alex Ovechkin moved one step closer to NHL history on Sunday, scoring his 890th career goal in the Washington Capitals’ 8–5 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The 39-year-old deflected Rasmus Sandin’s shot at 9:11 of the third period to cut Washington’s deficit to 6–4.

It was Ovechkin’s 37th goal of the season, and he remains on pace to reach 40 for the 14th time in his career—despite missing 16 games with a fractured fibula.

The goal brought him within five of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894, but Ovechkin had little interest in discussing the milestone after the game.

“Right now, we lost three in a row,” Ovechkin said. “It’s a good thing it happens right now and not in the playoffs, but we just have to bounce back and find a way to win the games.”

Ovechkin's postgame tone echoed that of head coach Spencer Carbery.

“We got what we deserved tonight,” Carbery said. "That’s not who we are.

"We were fighting to stay in that game. I didn't like any of our top-six again tonight. It just hasn't looked great. Their underlying numbers haven't been great the last two games from our top-six."

Washington allowed a season-high eight goals and has now lost three straight (0–2–1) games, two of them in regulation.

Despite the loss, the Capitals (47-17-9 and 103 points in 73 games) lead the Eastern Conference by nine points with a trip to Boston next, where Ovechkin will get his next chance to inch closer to Gretzky’s record.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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