Ovechkin, who recently broke Gretzky’s record for regular-season goals, had two goals and an assist as the Capitals downed the Montreal Canadiens at home 3-2 in overtime. He sealed the victory with his first career playoff overtime goal at 2:26 as the Capitals took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series.
That gave Ovechkin his 73rd and 74th career playoffs goals, moving him past Esa Tikkanen and tying him with Joe Pavelski for 13th overall in NHL history. Gretzky leads the way with 122 goals.
Ovechkin’s first goal was reminiscent of his record-breaking 895th career goal as he wristed in a power-play shot from his office in the left faceoff circle, this time past Montreal’s Sam Montembeault.
Anthony Beauvillier scored on a rebound of an Ovechkin shot in the second period, but Montreal tied the game in the third period on goals by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.
The Capitals struck quickly in overtime with Beauvillier feeding Ovechkin in front for the game-winner.
Capitals goalie Logan Thompson, returning from an April 2 upper-body injury, made 33 saves in the victory.
Los Angeles Kings 6, Edmonton Oilers 5
The Kings blew a 4-0 lead, but survived when Phillip Danault scored with 41.1 seconds left for a Game 1 victory.
Los Angeles jumped out to the four-goal lead, but Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl got a goal with six seconds left in the second period. The lead was cut to 5-3 and the Kings had the chance to put the game away when the Oilers unsuccessfully challenged a delay of game penalty against Jake Walman. The Oilers killed off the 5-on-3 disadvantage and got goals by Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid with their goalie pulled for an extra skater.
Danault’s shot knuckled past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner as the Kings broke up ice in the final minute for the winner. It was his second goal of the game.
Dallas Stars 4, Colorado Avalanche 3 (OT)
Colin Blackwell circled back to pick up his own rebound and ripped a shot past Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood at 17:46 of overtime to tie the series in Game 2.
The Stars ended an eight-game losing streak.
Winnipeg Jets 2, St. Louis Blues 1
Kyle Connor broke a tie early in the third period and Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg took a 2-0 series lead.
Jimmy Snuggerud score St. Louis’ goal late in the first period after he had helped knock in Scheifele’s goal.
Gabriel Landeskog sits again
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog will have to wait more before he plays his first NHL game in nearly three years.
He was activated from the injured list on Monday and took part in the pregame warmup but didn’t play Monday.
His last Avalanche game was in 2022 during their Stanley Cup championship clincher. He has been rehabbing from a serious knee injury that required a cartilage transplant.