Nov 9, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) reacts after scoring towards the St. Louis Blues throughout the third interval at Enterprise Heart. Necessary Credit score: Jeff Curry-Imagn Pictures Alex Ovechkin has drawn plenty of consideration in his quest for Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring document. Ovechkin is 31 behind The Nice One and he’s nonetheless scoring at a formidable clip at age 39.
He’ll attempt to transfer nearer to Gretzky when his Washington Capitals play the Colorado Avalanche on Friday evening in Denver.
Ovechkin has 10 objectives in 15 video games to this point and will realistically catch Gretzky this season if he will get on a roll offensively. The truth that he’s doing it 10 months earlier than he turns 40 has impressed his teammates and coaches.
“I’d not suppose he is 39,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t even wrap your head across the age and with the ability to play in one of the best league on the earth and the tempo of play these days.”
Ovechkin has eight objectives within the final eight video games and twice has scored two objectives.
“I do know I am unable to think about doing it at 39,” teammate Tom Wilson mentioned. “I do not suppose there’ll ever be anyone like him once more.”
Friday kicks off a three-game highway journey for the Capitals and is the primary of two conferences towards Colorado inside per week. The Avalanche are in Washington on Nov. 21.
The Capitals are coming off a disappointing 4-3 time beyond regulation dwelling loss to Toronto on Wednesday evening. Washington had a two-goal lead coming into the third interval however the Maple Leafs despatched it to time beyond regulation and gained it with 47 seconds left.
“The best way that that sport performed out, simply embarrassing,” Carbery mentioned. “Flat out. That is unrecognizable from our group. Taking part in a group on the second of (a) back-to-back.”
Colorado is coming off a 4-2 win towards the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday evening and has an opportunity to comb its four-game homestand. The Avalanche misplaced 5 of their first seven at dwelling however have gained the final 4 in Denver, and 4 of 5 total, behind strong goaltending and massive video games from their stars.
Mikko Rantanen had a pure hat trick and Nathan MacKinnon had three assists towards the Kings, and now assistance is on the way in which.
Forwards Valeri Nichushkin, Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wooden are anticipated to play Friday, which can strengthen the highest traces. Nichushkin has been suspended because the second spherical of the 2024 playoffs below the NHL/NHLPA participant help program, and Drouin has not performed since struggling an upper-body damage within the first sport of the season.
Drouin and Wooden, who has not performed since Oct. 28 as a result of an upper-body damage, have been activated from the injured checklist on Thursday.
The three will rejoin a group that has performed properly currently.
“We’re all excited so as to add guys again within the line, particularly the caliber gamers which are coming again in, however I am extra excited like the way in which our group’s been taking part in over the past half a dozen video games,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar mentioned. “We add extra guys into it. So long as we do not change something relating to the factors that we have been hammering dwelling and proceed to play the way in which we have been taking part in.”
–Area Stage Media
