Wed Feb 05 11:30:00 IST 2025: ## Ovechkin Inches Closer to Gretzky’s Record with Late Goal in Capitals’ Win

**WASHINGTON, D.C. –** Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal, a late empty-netter, bringing him 17 goals closer to Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record. The Washington Capitals defeated the Florida Panthers 6-3 in a high-scoring clash Tuesday night. Ovechkin’s goal, scored with just 0.1 seconds remaining, marked his fourth career goal at 19:59 of the third period, three of which were empty-netters.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Capitals. Andrew Mangiapane, Tom Wilson, Lars Eller, and Nic Dowd also found the back of the net, with Protas adding another empty-net goal. Goaltender Logan Thompson made 31 saves, thwarting the Panthers’ attempts to rally.

Despite goals from Sam Bennett, Aleksander Barkov, and Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers were unable to overcome the Capitals’ offensive onslaught. Florida’s two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Sergei Bobrovsky, stopped 21 shots but couldn’t contain the Capitals’ attack. The Panthers’ three-game winning streak came to an end.

Ovechkin’s milestone goal also marked his 25th goal of the season, tying him with Jaromir Jagr for the second most 25-goal seasons in NHL history, trailing only Gordie Howe. With 29 games remaining in the season, and another year on his contract, Ovechkin has a strong chance of surpassing Gretzky’s record.

Both coaches acknowledged the intensity of the game. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery described Ovechkin’s goal as “In true [Ovechkin] fashion,” while Panthers coach Paul Maurice attributed the loss to a few players having off nights. The game served as a compelling matchup between two Eastern Conference powerhouses.

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