Ovechkin Gets Closer to Record, Sharks Lose 5-1

The San Jose Sharks welcome the Washington Capitals into SAP Center.

Macklin Celebrini scored, but the Sharks got pasted 5-1.

Period 1

4 in: Ostapchuk centering pass doesn’t connect, looks like Dubois might be able to set up counterattack off the turnover, but Mukhamadullin closes and kills the play.

Strome goal: Ugh. Ugly hockey. Between Eklund or Celebrini, someone has to pick up Strome. Celebrini doubled up Wilson on the wall, so Eklund should react and skate with Strome down the center lane. On the pass, Mukhamadullin takes Ovechkin, leaving the center lane wide-open.

10 in: Great play by Graf, pushes McMichael off the puck along the wall, finds Smith in the slot. Smith has had back-to-back Grade-A chances, after the Caps ran up the first nine shots in the game.

8 left: Long shift for Mukhamadullin, but a lot of good defending, ending with walling off Duhaime in front.

6 left: One pass too many from Celebrini there, looks like an even-up attack, just fire it! He opts for a spinning pass to Graf that is picked off with ease.

4 left: Desharnais has a strong shift against Ovechkin on the PK, blocks an Ovi Office shot, wins a puck battle.

Protas goal: More bad hockey. Everybody slow to converge on the 6-foot-6 20-goal scorer in front of the net, too easy.

2 left: Like how Mukhamadullin sheds McMichael in corner, retrieving puck.

Raddysh goal: Neutral zone San Jose Sharks turnover, Georgiev was screened.

San Jose Sharks should be read the riot act after that period. Just playing, thinking slow.

Period 2

Romanov in, a shame on the San Jose Sharks pull by Warsofsky.

3 in: Perfect slot set-up, Celebrini to Toffoli. Sharks are playing awake, finally.

Sandin penalty: Interfering his buddy Eklund. San Jose needs some momentum from this power play.

Wilson 10-9 Ostapchuk: Wilson did not like that high Ostapchuk hit? Wilson and Ostapchuk jawing on the benches. Good for the kid for being willing.

Ostapchuk said yesterday that he models his game after Tom Wilson & Josh Anderson.

A reporter teased him, "Are you going to pick Tom Wilson's brain tomorrow?"

Looks like Ostapchuk just picked something else with Wilson! Welcome to the Sharks!

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2025

Duhaime 10-9 Gregor: Not sure why Duhaime was targeting Gregor?

3 left: Desharnais not happy with Dubois (who Ferraro was with earlier), Chychrun flies in with a cheapie cross-check. Could’ve been a major, just to discourage that BS, but a double-minor fair too.

1 left: Too cute on the power play, just shoot!

Well, at least the San Jose Sharks weren’t embarrassing in the second.

Period 3

Second power play was Mukhamadullin-Liljegren-Kostin-Graf-Goodrow.

3 in: Beaut trailer set-up by Celebrini, finding Mukhamadullin, big Thompson save.

Celebrini goal: Sharks get one on Ovechkin! Toffoli forechecks an Ovechkin turnover, hits Celebrini all alone, the rook video games Thompson.

van Riemsdyk goal: Romanov’s gotta have that one. That’s tough, 40 seconds after the momentum gained from Celebrini strike.

Ovechkin goal: Tough shift for Vlasic, exit pass to Kostin was a bit of a suicide one, forechecker was right on top of the puck, then can’t get Ovechkin’s stick on the deflection.

Lots of Caps fans at SAP Center, chanting, "Ovy! Ovy! Ovy!"

Ovechkin now 8 goals away from breaking Gretzky's record

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 15, 2025