Ovechkin is pushing Washington toward the playoffs

The Edmonton Oilers suffered an unexpected defeat in the NHL, while the Washington Capitals are back on track for the playoffs.

March 25, 2024

From: apa/dpa

On Sunday (local time) the in-form Stanley Cup contender from Edmonton lost 3:5 to the Ottawa Senators, the third weakest team in the Eastern Conference. The two best ice hockey strikers in Germany, Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton) and Tim Stützle (Ottawa), met – and both hit the mark.

At the beginning of the second period, Draisaitl was successful on the power play to give Edmonton a 2-1 lead, and Stützle made it 2-3 after another goal from the Oilers. The 22-year-old attacker also contributed an assist to Ottawa's 1-1 and 3-3 equalizers.

Tim Stützle led the Sens to a surprise win. © APA / CHRIS TANOUYE/FREESTYLE PHOTO

The Senators scored on the power play three minutes before the end of the game to make it 4:3 and then followed it up with a goal into Edmonton's empty goal to decide. The Oilers remain the second-best team in the Pacific Division, but the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights are just three and five points behind, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabers maintained their small chance of participating in the playoffs. Buffalo beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 and is six points behind Washington with 73 points.

The Capitals returned to the playoff ranks with their fifth win in their last six games. On Sunday they celebrated a 3-0 home win over the Winnipeg Jets, to which Alexander Ovechkin contributed the goals to make it 2-0 (44th) and 3-0 (52nd).

“Ovi” receives special praise from the trainer

The Russian superstar has scored eight goals in the last five games and now has 26 goals this season and 848 NHL goals. The 894-year-old is still 38 goals short of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goalscoring record (46 goals).

“In the most important games of the year, when our season is at stake almost every night, he delivers great things. “He scores important goals to keep us in the race,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said of Ovechkin.