Ovechkin passes Howe for second in NHL goals
Alex Ovechkin barely looked at the empty net when he shot the puck into it and set off a wild celebration with his teammates and among Washington Capitals fans.
With a no-look empty-net goal, Ovechkin made more history and moved another step closer to breaking one of hockey’s most hallowed records.
Ovechkin scored goals 801 and 802 Friday night to move into second place on the NHL career list. After beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender David Rittich in the first period to match Gordie
Howe, Ovechkin almost reluctantly scored from just inside the blue line with a minute left to pass “Mr. Hockey.”
Only Wayne Gretzky with 894 has scored more, and Ovechkin is now 93 goals from breaking a record that has long seemed unapproachable.
And Ovechkin does not intend on stopping any time soon. He’s signed for three more years after this season in hopes of surpassing 894 goals.
Ovechkin scored in his first game facing Rittich, who became the 166th NHL goaltender he has beaten for a goal during his 18-year career. Only Jaromir Jagr at 178 and Patrick Marleau at 177 have scored against more goalies.
Elsewhere: Washingtons defenseman John Carlson was discharged from the hospital Saturday and will be out indefinitely after taking a puck to the face Friday. The frightening injury occurred 55 seconds into the third period, when a slap shot from Winnipeg’s
Brenden Dillon hit Carlson up high. Carlson immediately fell to the ice, bleeding profusely. Carlson skated to the locker room with a towel pressed to his face.
ETC.
NBA: Reigning NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry,
34, will miss at least two more weeks for Golden
State as he recovers from a partial dislocation of the left shoulder he suffered Dec. 14 in a game at Indiana . ... Los Angeles Lakers forward
Anthony Davis has a stress injury in his right foot and will be out indefinitely, the team announced.
MLB: The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired one of the top prospects in baseball, adding catcher Gabriel Moreno and veteran outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in a Friday swap that sent slugger Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays. The 22-year-old Moreno made the majors last season with the Blue Jays, hitting .319 with a homer in 69 at-bats. The Blue Jays get the versatile Varsho, 26, who was arguably the best player on the Diamondbacks last season. He is an excellent defender in the outfield who also has the ability to play catcher . ... The Chicago Cubs and pitcher Drew Smyly finalized a $19 million, two-year contract. Smyly, 33, has an opt out after the 2023 season. The left-hander will make $8 million next year and $8.5 million in 2024. There is a $10 million mutual option for 2025 with a $2.5 million buyout.
Soccer: France World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi announced his retirement from soccer. The 35-yearold Matuidi won the World Cup in 2018 and made the last of his 84 appearances for Les Bleus three years ago. He scored 33 goals in 295 games for PSG and was twice voted into the French league’s team of the season. ... Thomas Frank is looking to create “more magic moments” as head coach of Brentford after signing a new long-term contract that will keep him at the Premier League club until 2027. The 49-year-old Dane was appointed in 2018 and guided the club into the top flight for the first time in its history in 2020-21, ultimately finishing 13th in that campaign.