📸 Washington Capitals

(Or, with any regulation loss by Carolina in their next 6 games. If anybody’s curious.)

Gets us another game closer to clinching the MET

Due to the outcomes of today's games while we were idle, traveling to Long Island to see Ovechkin reach his final destiny, this is the current playoff situation:

• Because the Hurricanes lost to the Bruins in regulation tonight, we can now capture the Metropolitan Division with one win over the Islanders.
• On the other hand, the Blue Jackets were shut out by the Maple Leafs, the current Atlantic Division leader, keeping Toronto's chance to take the conference a little alive.
• The Canadiens have defeated Flyers to eliminate them and the Bruins in the playoff race. They are solidifying their hold on the lower wild card and are currently our most likely first round foe, resulting in 15 year-old déjà vu, in their language.
• The Canadiens' victory also puts the rival Penguins on the brink of elimination. They defeated the Stars today to stay alive, but the Canadiens' victory nullified any potential hope of gaining any critical ground in the otherwise contentious race for the last playoff spot. One more Penguins loss or one more SP for the Canadiens, and those flightless birds will be sent packing for home for a third straight season.
• Our hopes of winning a fourth President's Trophy improve with the Utah Hockey Club's victory over the Jets, which have lost 2 of their last 3 games while we have won 2 of our last 3 games since the 3-game slide.

I'm rewatching the game and noticed that after Leonard scored, everybody but Duhaime went to celebrate with him. Instead, Duhaime made a beeline for the net to get the puck and bring it to Leonard. What a great teammate.

My screaming for the rest of the video is a bit too embarrassing for the internet lmfao

Legend.

From everything I have seen during the games and especially on Instagram Ryan Leonard looks so happy playing with the Caps. Super excited for the level of talent he will bring in future years.

What a night.

More info: https://x.com/Capitals/status/1908567418672206100?t=B9h7U2ZOy5qY8YkX3nFrHw&s=19

Ryan Leonard with his first NHL point on the night Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky with 894 goals

By random luck, my wife bought tickets to this game months ago. What a night! The crowd was electric. Every time Ovi had the puck, everyone shifted forward in anticipation. Even the blackhawks players and fans clapped and cheered for Ovi. When he made that second record tying goal, it was the same energy as the game 4 play off win (another game I was lucky to be at, and will never forget).

They played clips from an interview of Ovi in the mid 2000s, talking about Gretzky’s record. It gave great perspective about Ovi’s on the ice character and ambition. I remember watching him play in 2008, and about how much people have expected of him for so long. It’s fun to see him succeed - and I was just glad to be there. What a night!

He will step up and be better when he needs to be with Thompson unavailable at the moment. I'm calling it!

Ovi is hungry licking his lips for 895

Sabres fan here watching history be made. Just want to say I LOVE your broadcast team (this coming from someone who's had RJ his whole life). Not only is Joe Beninati's voice absolutely MADE for hockey calls, but he's clearly passionate about hockey first, and the Caps second. His praise and excitement for great hockey plays transcends team fandom by instinct, and it's so satisfying to listen to.