Alex Ovechkin is poised to achieve a significant milestone in his career as he aims for his 900th NHL goal during the Washington Capitals’ home game against the New York Islanders on October 27, 2023. Ovechkin recently moved within one goal of this achievement after scoring and assisting in the Capitals’ game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 24. Despite being held scoreless in his last two outings, the three-time Hart Trophy winner has a storied history against the Islanders, boasting 71 points (45 goals, 26 assists) in 74 career matches against them.
Ovechkin has the opportunity to not only reach his 900th goal but also to secure goal number 127 in October, which would surpass Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for the most career goals scored in that month in NHL history. The Capitals enter this matchup following a 1-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, where they struggled to convert scoring opportunities. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery expressed optimism about the team’s performance despite the result, stating, “I think a lot of what we did out there for the majority of the game… controlled play, had a majority of the looks, just didn’t convert on them.”
In their previous meeting with the Islanders earlier this month, the Capitals secured a 4-2 victory. In that game, Aliaksei Protas shone with two goals and one assist, while goaltender Logan Thompson made 34 saves. As the team prepares for the Islanders, they may see the return of forwards Dylan Strome and defenseman Rasmus Sandin. Both players practiced on Friday after missing time due to injuries. Strome is recovering from a lower-body injury sustained in a loss to the Ottawa Senators, while Sandin has been out for three games due to an upper-body injury. Carbery noted, “It was a good step, and I’ll talk to (head athletic trainer Jason Serbus) and we’ll see where they’re at for the weekend.”
The New York Islanders are also facing challenges, currently in the midst of their second three-game losing streak of the season. They fell 6-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes on October 26 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his third goal of the season during the game, having netted his first career goal against the Capitals. Additionally, Simon Holmstrom scored his third goal in four games, but the team played without Mathew Barzal, who was a healthy scratch due to disciplinary reasons after being late for the morning skate. Coach Patrick Roy stated, “That’s the culture of our team. We made the decision to not play him… He was really good about it.” Barzal is expected to return for the matchup against the Capitals.
As both teams prepare for this key encounter, Ovechkin’s pursuit of 900 goals adds an exciting layer to the rivalry. The Capitals will look to capitalize on their home ice advantage while the Islanders aim to halt their losing streak and regain momentum.
