Alex Ovechkin is on the brink of achieving a significant milestone as he chases his 900th career goal in the NHL. After scoring a goal and an assist on October 24, 2023, against Columbus, he is just one goal away from joining an elite group of players. Ovechkin, a three-time recipient of the Hart Trophy, has faced challenges in recent games, having been held scoreless in consecutive matches leading up to the Washington Capitals’ home game against the New York Islanders.
Ovechkin has historically excelled against the Islanders, amassing an impressive 71 points, including 45 goals and 26 assists, in 74 career meetings. He contributed an assist during the Capitals’ 4-2 victory over New York on October 11. In addition to aiming for his 900th goal, Ovechkin is also targeting his 127th career goal in October. Achieving this feat would allow him to surpass Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for the most career goals scored in October in NHL history.
The Capitals are looking to bounce back after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery commented on the team’s performance, stating, “I think a lot of what we did out there for the majority of the game, especially the second and third period, I thought we did a lot of good things. (We) controlled play, had the majority of the looks, just didn’t convert on them. So, you can’t be upset or disappointed with the process.”
In their previous match against the Islanders, the Capitals showcased their offensive prowess, with Aliaksei Protas contributing two goals and an assist, while goaltender Logan Thompson made 34 saves. Capitals forwards Dylan Strome and defenseman Rasmus Sandin could potentially return to the lineup after participating in practice on Friday. Strome has been sidelined with a lower-body injury, while Sandin has missed three games due to an upper-body injury. Carbery noted, “It was a good step, and I’ll talk to our head athletic trainer Jason Serbus and we’ll see where they’re at for the weekend.”
On the other side, the Islanders are grappling with their second three-game losing streak of the season after a 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his third goal of the season in that match. Schaefer, who was the top overall pick in the 2025 draft, previously scored his first career goal against Washington. Teammate Simon Holmstrom has also been in fine form, netting his third goal in four games.
The Islanders’ lineup faced a setback as Mathew Barzal was a healthy scratch on Thursday due to disciplinary reasons, following his tardiness to the morning skate. Head coach Patrick Roy explained, “That’s the culture of our team. We made the decision to not play him. Barzy doesn’t feel good about it, but you respect the decision.” Barzal is expected to return for the game against the Capitals.
As both teams prepare for this critical matchup, Ovechkin’s pursuit of his 900th goal will undoubtedly add excitement to an already intense rivalry between the Capitals and the Islanders. Fans will be watching closely as Washington aims to regain momentum while New York seeks to end its losing streak.
