Nikolaj Ehlers scored in overtime as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the visiting Capitals 3-2 on Tuesday night in a battle in which Washington’s Alex Ovechkin scored his 889th career goal.
Ovechkin’s tally climbed him within six goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record.
Josh Morrissey and Mason Appleton were the other goal scorers for Winnipeg (49-14-4, 102 points), which clinched a playoff berth with 10 games remaining.
Mark Scheifele, Dylan DeMelo, Nino Niederreiter, Cole Perfetti, Dylan Samberg and Adam Lowry provided the Jets’ assists. Connor Hellebuyck made 27 stops.
Andrew Mangiapane also scored for Washington (47-15-9, 103 points), which was the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Jakob Chychrun, Aliaksei Protas and Trevor van Riemsdyk picked up assists. Logan Thompson saved 22 pucks for the Capitals.
The Jets opened the scoring 6:50 into the first period when Morrissey put a shot from the point into the net off a Washington player.
The Capitals got on the board late in the opening frame. Mangiapane finished off a nice give-and-go with Chychrun, beating Hellebuyck top corner to level the score 1-1 with 40 seconds remaining.
Winnipeg responded with 12 seconds left in the second period as Appleton received a long pass from Niederreiter and wired the puck into the net to make it 2-1.
That score held until there was just four minutes left in regulation. Ovechkin knotted the game at 2-2, using his quick release from the circle.
In overtime, Ehlers used his speed, streaking down the ice to get the game winner 1:28 into the extra stanza.
The Jets are now 37-0-1 when leading heading into the third period.
–Field Level Media
