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NHL roundup: ALL CAPS as Ovechkin scores goal 888 & team secure spot in playoffs

Alexander Ovechkin (second from right) celebrates with his teammates after scoring goal number 888 (2025)
Alexander Ovechkin (second from right) celebrates with his teammates after scoring goal number 888 (2025) Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFP
The National Hockey League (NHL) saw a massive 14-game slate on Thursday but the headlines were ALL CAPS as Alexander Ovechkin scored his 888th goal as he is now seven away from breaking the record.

The Washington Capitals checked off a lot of boxes in their 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers

They are now the first team in the NHL to clinch a playoff spot this year, own the best record in hockey, are the first team to 100 points, and have now won three straight. 

Ovechkin (35), Brandon Duhaime (8), and Andrew Mangiapane (12) scored three straight for the Caps. 

Philly battled back with two straight goals, one in which the Caps scored on their own net, to shorten the lead. 

But the best team in hockey was too much as they shut the door on the game for the win. 

Islanders 4-3 Canadiens

Who was once thought of as a team that was down and out, the New York Islanders are now just three points away from leaping the Montreal Canadiens for the second Wild Card spot after tonight's overtime win. 

After being down 3-1, the Canadiens rallied to send it to overtime where Bo Horvat (23) scored the game-winner and his second goal of the game. 

The Islanders have now leapt from the bottom of the Metropolitan Division to fourth, winning three straight games and six of their last 10. 

Blues 4-3 Canucks

The St. Louis Blues win a critical overtime game against the Canucks as they hold on tight to the second Wild Card spot in the west as the Canucks now fall just one point below them. 

St. Louis has now won four straight games, and seven of their last 10, thanks to the overtime winner from Philip Broberg (7).

Meanwhile, the Canucks remain flat by splitting their last 10 games. 

Around the league

The Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 in overtime while the Toronto Maple Leafs took down the New York Rangers 4-3. Both the Panthers and Maple Leafs are now tied atop the Atlantic Division with the same exact record at 42-24-3, with Florida owning the tiebreak. 

The two teams will face off against each other on April 2nd and April 8th. 

Up in Canada, in yet another 4-3 overtime win, the Winnipeg Jets took down the Edmonton Oilers to become the second team to 100 points shortly after the Capitals reached the milestone. 

Jets' Connor Hellebuyck became the 14th goalie in NHL history to have multiple 40-win seasons.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames got hot in the third period, scoring four goals to take down the New Jersey Devils 5-3.

In his return, goaltender John Gibson led the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators thanks to his 33-save night. 

The Colorado Avalanche buried the Ottawa Senators 5-1 while the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 after a game-winning shootout goal from Gage Goncalves.

Nothing seems to be clicking for the Chicago Blackhawks after the Los Angeles Kings handed them their sixth straight loss in a 3-1 battle. 

During a season where not much goes their way, the Buffalo Sabres failed to extend their winning streak to three games after losing to the Utah Hockey Club 5-2.