Capitals use late rally, Ovechkin empty-netter to power last Kraken

“The Gr8 Chase” is starting to feel a bit cinematic for the Washington Capitals.

Players said they felt the drama of Alex Ovechkin’s hunt of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record draw closer in Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. 

Ovechkin scored his 886th career goal on an empty-netter. The Russian needs just nine more goals to pass Gretzky after Sunday’s game-sealing score.

“It’s going to be a movie,” John Carlson, one of Ovechkin’s long-time teammates, said after the game. “A sports documentary.”

The 35-year-old would love to be in the climactic scene, potentially delivering a crucial assist to make history. 

“That’s up to him,” Carlson said, nodding at Ovechkin across the locker room. “Who he wants in the documentary.”

Sunday’s match looked like a horror film in the first period, though. A sloppy start dotted by giveaways saw the Capitals on their heels for the first 20 minutes. 

Seattle kept the pressure on Washington goaltender Charlie Lindgren. He finished with 28 saves and didn’t allow a goal on Seattle’s four power plays. 

Seattle pummeled Lindgren with 14 shots on goal in the first period, compared to just seven by a sluggish Washington squad. A Kraken shot finally slid through just over 12 minutes into the game. 

An intermission message from coach Spencer Carbery seemed to ignite Washington. The Capitals brought an energy and polish to the second period that was absent in the first 20 minutes. 

“We haven’t had great starts for a while now, but we’re pretty confident whether we’re tied or down and seem to be finding a way,” center Dylan Strome said after the game. “Our starts could be better, so we definitely need to clean that up, but we’re a confident team.”

Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary scored his fourth goal of the season just 35 seconds into the second period. A pair of slick passes from Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael sent him up well.

Strome joined the scoring just two minutes later. In his 500th career game, the 28-year-old set up near the center of the ice and sniped a shot past Seattle goalie Joey Daccord to give Washington a 2-1 lead. 

Seattle right winger Jordan Eberle sent a snap shot past Lindgren on a breakaway to even the score at 2 entering the final period. 

Tensions rose as the score remained knotted in the third period. A hit by Washington’s Tom Wilson, one of several he notched throughout the game, caused a brawl behind Seattle’s goal. Helmets and sticks littered the ice as referees tried to break up the fight. 

Ten players — five from each team — were eventually sent to the penalty box. The referees awarded the Kraken a power play as they divvied up the roughing, holding and minor penalties from the brawl. 

In 20 seasons with Washington, Ovechkin confessed he’d never seen a brawl like that at Capital One Arena. The penalty box got a bit crowded. 

The players on the ice felt the fight revived the fans, though. 

“That was what turned up the heat,” McMichael said. “Guys got into it, and we didn’t want to back down to anyone. And I felt the crowd got a lot more alive after that moment. It fed us a lot of energy.”

The Capitals, as they had throughout the game, killed the post-fight power play to keep the score even. 

A McMichael shot that rattled off the crossbar nearly sent the Washington faithful at Capital One Arena into a frenzy just after players poured out. of the penalty box. Those fans felt elation when McMichael deflected a John Carlson shot into the net with just over four minutes remaining in the game.

“Anytime you hit the bar like that, you’re an inch away from making something happen,” McMichael said. “So, it was nice to get rewarded with one in front there.”

Ovechkin sealed the win with an empty-net goal three minutes later. 

While the surefire Hall of Famer is still reluctant to talk about the record, his teammates know it’s on the horizon. Trailing Gretzky by single digits makes it feel like an inevitability. 

“The chances are tightening up, but he’s still finding ways to score,” Strome said, defending the occasionally criticized empty-net goals. “It’s still a pretty skilled play to go back through a guy’s legs or stick and find a way to score. Nine more.”

Washington’s active win streak began with a shootout win against the Ottawa Senators. The next wins were a bit easier on the blood pressure — the Capitals only needed overtime to beat the New York Rangers on Wednesday and a third-period rally to defeat the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. 

After Sunday’s game, the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals departed for a three-game West Coast road trip. They return to the ice on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.