Since the beginning of last season, Ovechkin has scored 76 goals in 122 games, with many of those games played in empty or nearly empty buildings because of the pandemic. In that period of time, he surpassed several of the game's all-time greats on the NHL's all-time goals ledger, moving up to 780 career goals to sit in third place all-time, and in first place among all European-born players.
Since the start of last season, Ovechkin moved from ninth place to third place on the all-time list, pushing his way past Mike Gartner (708), Phil Esposito (717), Marcel Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jaromir Jagr (766). Now, Ovechkin trails only Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801).
Because he suffered an upper body injury in the third period of Sunday's game against Toronto, Ovechkin didn't suit up for Tuesday's tilt with the Islanders, so he was in street clothes for the ceremony and for his pregame visit to a unique new display of his career achievements over 17 seasons in Washington, newly unveiled on the 400 level of Capital One Arena.
Once the game got underway, however, the Caps put an underwhelming coda on what has been a mediocre home season in 2021-22. After winning an early coach's challenge to keep the game scoreless and then taking a 1-0 lead of their own midway through the first period, the Caps were stuck in neutral - and occasionally, reverse - for the rest of the night, yielding four unanswered goals in a 4-1 loss to the Isles, who shook of a five-game losing streak (0-4-1).
The loss left the Caps with a 19-16-6 record at home this season, their worst mark since they went 17-17-7 here in 2006-07, Ovechkin's sophomore season in the NHL.
"Just a little flat, I think," says Caps right wing Tom Wilson. "Pucks were bouncing a lot; there was nothing that was really that clean out there. It was just one of those nights, it was kind of bouncing everywhere, and guys were out of synch a little bit. We couldn't really get much going. Kind of an ugly game, but sometimes you've got to find a way to turn it around if it's not going your way. We just didn't have that really tonight."
The less said about this one, the better. The Caps head to New York on Wednesday for a season-ending set of back-to-back road games against the Islanders on Thursday and the Rangers on Friday. And although the Caps struggled on home ice this season after a strong start, they hold the League's best road record at 25-8-6.
First Blood -The Caps scored first for the 52nd time in 80 games this season, the most of any team in the League this season. The last NHL team to score the game's first goal as many as 52 times was the 2016-17 Capitals, who led the League with 58 first goals in 82 games.
Blackjack - With his assist on Conor Sheary's first-period goal, Caps defenseman Nick Jensen recorded his 21st point of the season (five goals, 16 assists), establishing a career high. Jensen's previous best was 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) in 2018-19.
The 600 Club - Caps defenseman Justin Schultz skated in his 600th NHL game last night against the Islanders. Schultz made his NHL debut with Edmonton on Jan. 20, 2013 in the season opener of the lockout-abbreviated 2012-13 season. He played 248 games over four seasons with the Oilers before moving on to Pittsburgh, where he skated in 234 regular season games and played on two Stanley Cup championship teams in five seasons. Now in his second season with the Capitals, Schultz has now logged 118 games in a Washington sweater.
By The Numbers -John Carlson led the Caps with 22:23 in ice time and with six shots on net … Sheary led Washington with nine shot attempts … Martin Fehervary led the Caps with five hits … Garnet Hathaway led the Capitals with three blocked shots … Nicklas Backstrom won nine of 14 face-offs (69 percent) and Nic Dowd won eight of 12 (67 percent).
