Ovechkin moves within 20 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, Capitals beat Kraken 3-0

Alex Ovechkin moved within 20 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record with an empty-netter, helping the Washington Capitals beat the Seattle Kraken 3-0 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is congratulated after scoring against the Seattle Kraken during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is congratulated after scoring against the Seattle Kraken during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Nation & World
By ALLYSON BALLARD – Associated Press
Updated 17 hours ago
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SEATTLE (AP) — Alex Ovechkin moved within 20 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record with an empty-netter, helping the Washington Capitals beat the Seattle Kraken 3-0 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.

Ovechkin scored his 22nd goal of the season to push his career total to 875. Gretzky scored 894 goals in the NHL.

Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves in his first start since Jan. 10 for his first shutout of the season — and the NHL-leading Capitals' third in five games after Logan Thompson blanked Anaheim and Ottawa in consecutive games last week.

Aliaksei Protas and Ethen Frank also scored.

Joey Daccord made 30 saves for Seattle in his fifth straight start and 100th NHL game.

Takeaways

Capitals: Trevor van Riemsdyk and Jakob Chychrun assisted on Ovechkin’s empty-net goal with 3:28 left. ... Pierre-Luc Dubois extended his point streak to three games with an assist.

Kraken: Seattle has been shut out six times this season.

Key moment

With 16 seconds remaining in the second period, Lindgren stopped Oliver Bjorkstrand on a breakaway.

Up next

Both teams are back in action Saturday. The Capitals are at Vancouver, and the Kraken host Pittsburgh.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals players celebrate a win over the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) and Seattle Kraken defenseman Joshua Mahura (28) collide as they go for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord (35) blocks a shot by Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (42) reacts after he was hit in the face by the puck as Seattle Kraken center Jaden Schwartz (17) and Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) look on during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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Washington Capitals center Ethen Frank (53) is congratulated after scoring against the Seattle Kraken during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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