By The Associated Press’s Stephen Wnyno
Washington On an early February Saturday night in the U.S. capital, the NHL’s top two teams faced off in front of an enthusiastic sellout crowd of over 18,500 spectators, and they did not let supporters down.
In an exciting midseason game, the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets combined for nine goals, including Alex Ovechkin’s 877th goal, which put him eighteen goals shy of tying Wayne Gretzky’s record. That knotted the score, the Jets won overtime, and the game ended in a 5–4 victory for almost all of the players.
Following his team’s sixth consecutive victory, Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel remarked, “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years.” We have been observing what the top players on the other side have been doing, and you are aware that you are up against them. It’s thrilling for the spectators, but not so much for the coaches, whether you’re watching them on the highlights or following them in the standings.
Perhaps the goalie coaches, as Logan Thompson and Connor Hellebuyck both made some excellent stops at either end of the rink despite all the scoring. With 25 saves apiece, this might have been a double-digit return to 1980s hockey.
Capitals winger Tom Wilson, who scored his 21st goal of the season, stated that both teams undoubtedly have a goalkeeper or goalies who you expect to win every time they play. They give you a chance to win. They were all over us, and the hockey tonight was of a very high standard.
The hockey was good. It must have been entertaining to watch the boys work so hard to finish the game. Just (came up) a little short, and I believe it’s good to show ourselves that we belong and can compete with the league’s best players.
With 7:39 remaining in regulation, Ovechkin scored to give Washington the victory and ignite the cries “Ovi! Ovi!” Washington erased a two-goal deficit in the third period. The noise level at Capital One Arena may have been the highest of the season.
“It was a battle between the two best teams,” Ovechkin remarked. The contest was challenging on both sides.
Arniel, who served as Ovechkin’s assistant coach for four seasons from 2018 to 22, has witnessed that type of shot firsthand many times.
Arniel remarked, “That came off in a hurry, and obviously Helley didn’t have time to react to that one.”
As the league’s finest goalie, Hellebuyck has already won the Vezina Trophy twice and is a clear favorite to win it a third time. Since joining the Capitals in a trade from Vegas last summer, Thompson has excelled, and earlier this week, he was rewarded with a new six-year contract worth $35.1 million, which starts next season.
However, this one wasn’t about the goalies.
Josh Morrissey, a defender for the Jets who scored twice, including the overtime victory, said the game was chaotic. There were many goals and a lot of strange things happening. Both clubs are well-known for their defensive play in addition to their scoring prowess. Therefore, I believe that both sides would likely want to tidy up some of those items. But many swings for a single game. It was good to persevere and earn the two points, and there was a lot of energy in the arena.
On Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Washington, center Dylan Strome (17) of the Washington Capitals delivers the puck to defenseman Neal Pionk (left) of the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game. (Photo by Nick Wass/AP)
The game undoubtedly demonstrated what a possible Stanley Cup Final may look like if Washington can go through the Eastern Conference playoffs and Winnipeg through the Western Conference. A best-of-seven series in June should be thrilling, but these clubs’ next meeting is north of the border in March.
Morrissey stated that both sides are very proud and want to prove they are superior. We managed to remain resilient during the match, and it’s clear why they’re such a strong team.
https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL is the AP NHL.
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