Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of becoming the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer continues and a just-signed college star could join the lineup as the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals begin a road back-to-back when they visit the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
The Capitals (47-17-9, 103 points) have lost three straight (0-2-1) after an 8-5 Sunday defeat to the Buffalo Sabres, which marked the first game all season in which they allowed more than five goals. Despite the losses, they have held the advantage in shots in all three games.
“I think we’ll put that one behind us,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “There were some circumstances within the game that I think the guys were mindful of and understood that are not the way that we wanted to look.
“We’ve got to get this thing going … but we’re finding ways right now to come out on the other end.”
Still, Ovechkin had a three-point game which included scoring his 890th career goal, moving within five of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
Jakob Chychrun also scored twice to become Washington’s first 20-goal defenseman since 2008-09, but it was not enough as the team’s skid reached three for only the second time this season.
“It’s easy this time of year, when you’re not playing your best, to get down on yourself. I don’t sense that we’re going to do that at all in this room,” Chychrun said.
The Capitals signed top prospect Ryan Leonard to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday, less than 24 hours after his Boston College team was eliminated before the NCAA Frozen Four. The 20-year-old Amherst, Mass., native was the first college player to produce consecutive 30-goal seasons since 2011.
He will reportedly make his NHL debut on Tuesday.
“Proud of him and the season he’s had, but also how he’s conducted himself,” Carbery said. “The year that he’s had with World Juniors and another really strong season at BC. Anytime you don’t win the last game, it’s a tough feeling, especially having played college hockey — you put a lot into that, and those one-and-done scenarios are tough.”
The Bruins (30-35-9, 69 points) have continued falling behind in the playoff race during a 0-7-1 skid. Their fifth straight regulation loss in that span was a narrow 2-1 Saturday defeat at the Detroit Red Wings.
The team’s game did take a step in the right direction in the eyes of Morgan Geekie, who added to his career-best season with his 27th goal. The Bruins had allowed five or more goals in three of the previous four games heading into Detroit.
“I thought we played hard for 60 minutes — that’s the most complete game we’ve had for a while,” Geekie said. “It’s tough to not see any results from that, but we can take some positives from it.”
Moving forward, the challenge of defending Ovechkin is immense, especially for the likes of Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco who specialized in the penalty kill during his time as an assistant.
A goal on Tuesday would mark the 30th of Ovechkin’s career against the Bruins. They hope to put a halt to his run of three goals in five games and six since the start of March.
He has caused “some nightmares, for sure,” Sacco joked. “I think with him on the power play, a guy that you have to pay close attention to over the years, especially in his spot over there in the elbow.”
Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy continued his rehab from a shoulder injury and infection that he suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. On Monday, he rejoined practice without a non-contact jersey, but there is still no timetable for his return.
“What I’m trying to do right now is just rehab the best I can try and work every single day to put myself in a position to potentially play this year, and what will happen will happen,” McAvoy said.
