Watch: Ovechkin notches 25th goal of season as time expires

Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin battles for the puck in the second period at Capital One Arena. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Watch: Alex Ovechkin notches 25th goal of season as time expires

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Feb 4, 2025 10:13 PM ET

In hockey, everything counts until the clock hits triple-zeros. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin notched a literal buzzer-beater of a goal in his team's 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers.

With the final seconds of regulation ticking down in the third period and Washington up 5-3, Ovechkin received the puck from a teammate and buried it into the empty net from center ice as the final horn sounded.

OVI GETS THE ENG WITH 0.1 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK ⏰

HE'S 17 GOALS AWAY FROM HISTORY pic.twitter.com/Yw7DAqGfbj
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 5, 2025

The officials had to review the goal because it appeared Ovechkin's shot didn't cross the line entirely before the game was over.

Unlike basketball, where a player just has to get a shot off before time expires, a hockey puck must cross the goal line entirely before the period concludes.

Replay determined there was 0.1 second remaining when Ovechkin's shot hit the net. It was his 25th goal of the season and the 878th of his career.

8️⃣7️⃣8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/Gt5ucHzOXR
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 5, 2025

Ovechkin is now just 17 goals from passing Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky's all-time record (894).

The Russian star has seen a lot of success against the defending Stanley Cup champions. He's recorded 90 points (45 goals, 45 assists) in 73 career games against the Panthers.

Fans will be hoping the empty-net tally will spark another one of his trademark scoring sprees as he approaches hockey history.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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