Those hoping to see Alex Ovechkin extend his NHL record goal total against the Blue Jackets on Saturday at Nationwide Arena won’t get the opportunity.
Ovechkin, who scored his 895th career goal last Sunday to break Wayne Gretzky’s previous all-time high of 894, isn’t playing for the Washington Capitals and didn’t make the team's trip to Columbus on Friday while attending an event at Union Station in Washington to celebrate his historic feat. The Capitals will also play without high-scoring defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who has 47 points on 20 goals and 27 assists.
The game is sold out, but tickets are available on the resale market. As recently as last week, oddsmakers projected the game as the most likely one for Ovechkin to break Gretzky’s record.
The NHL’s new goal king got it done early, passing Gretzky last Sunday against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. There is still some luster to the game for Blue Jackets fans, whose team was spared elimination from the Eastern Conference playoff race thanks to the Montreal Canadiens' loss Friday night in Ottawa.
The Blue Jackets must avoid a loss in regulation to the Capitals and have the Canadiens lose again in regulation Saturday night in Toronto to elude postseason elimination again. After facing the Capitals, they’ll play a rematch Sunday in Washington before concluding the season with games Tuesday in Philadelphia and Thursday against the Islanders in the season finale at Nationwide Arena.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
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