Capitals Beat Rangers 7-4, Ovechkin Scores 872nd Goal

The Washington Capitals defeated the New York Rangers 7-4 on January 4, 2025, with Alex Ovechkin scoring his 872nd career goal, moving him closer to Wayne Gretzky's record. Ovechkin has been performing well since returning from injury, with four goals in five games and 19 goals this season. Other notable performances included goals from Dylan Strome, Lars Eller, Andrew Mangiapane, and Connor McMichael, while Tom Wilson capped the victory with an empty-net goal. Despite the loss, the Rangers saw contributions from Chris Kreider, Sam Carrick, Filip Chytil, and Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers continue to struggle, marking their 16th loss in 21 games, raising concerns over coach Peter Laviolette's job security. The Capitals' win improves their record to 26-10-3, maintaining their position in the playoff race.