LAS VEGAS -- Needing to distance themselves from the pack, the Golden Knights missed another opportunity when they lost to the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets, 4-0, on Thursday.

Facing Winnipeg's backup goaltender, Eric Comrie, the Knights stumbled through a sluggish start and couldn't catch up once the Jets got their offense started. Comrie made 26 saves in recording his second shutout of the season.

Vegas started Adin Hill, who made 16 saves before being pulled in the third period for Akira Schmid.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

WESTERN WOES: Vegas has split its 32 games since Jan. 14, with a majority of its wins coming against Eastern Conference foes. The Knights, who turned in a 10-2-2 mark in March, are 16-11-5 during that stretch, including 10-4-3 against teams from the East. That leaves a disappointing 6-7-2 against Western Conference foes in the same span.

"I’m concerned," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "This isn’t a one-off. We should be prepared to play. We didn’t."

The Golden Knights have seven games remaining - all against Western Conference teams.

ENEMY TERRITORY: With three road games on deck, the Golden Knights bring their fledgling offense north of the border for a date with a dangerous and hungry Calgary Flames team that is still looking for a playoff berth. The Flames (84) are five points back of the Minnesota Wild, who have 89 points and are in second place in the Wild Card race. Calgary will be playing its second game of a two-game homestand after Thursday's 4-1 win over Anaheim. The Flames have won two of their last three in Calgary. The Knights have won their last two meetings with the Flames, but the home team is on a 5-1 run with this series.

NOW WHAT, AGAIN: To revisit the same thought after Tuesday's loss to Edmonton, the Golden Knights have clinched a playoff berth, but are not out of the wild-card woods just yet. Vegas (98) is now only three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (93) and five in front of the Edmonton Oilers (91). Sitting in first and second of the Western Conference Wild Card standings are the St. Louis Blues and Wild, both from the Central Division. The Knights aren't in jeopardy of slipping out of the Pacific Division's top three, but could fall into second- or third-place with a late-season collapse. By doing so, they would face either the Kings or Oilers in the first round, rather than the Blues or Wild. The Knights have seven games remaining, including five on the road. They'll need to shake off their back-to-back losses at home and get back to winning if they want to wrap up their fifth Pacific Division title.

Jared C. Tilton via Getty Images

Alex Ovechkin is currently just two goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, and three away from making history of his own. Tonight, he and the Washington Capitals will face the Chicago Blackhawks on the ice. While there's no guarantee that Ovechkin will get closer — or even break — Gretzky's record at tonight's game, the Blackhawks defense this season has been weak, and Ovechkin has managed 15 goals against the team across 25 career games. Ovechkin's next goal will also mark his 14th 40-goal season, bringing him within one of Gretzky. Tonight's potentially historic game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on NHL Network and streaming on ESPN+. Here's how to watch. 

How to watch the Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks game: 

Date: Friday, Apr. 4

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Capital One Arena

TV channel: NHL Network

Streaming: ESPN+, DirecTV Stream

When is Alex Ovechkin's next game? 

Ovechkin will play with the Capitals tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks. He is just a hat trick away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, and has scored 15 goals in his 25 career games against the Blackhawks — who have already allowed 272 goals this season, so what's a few more? 

Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks time: 

The Capitals vs. Blackhawks NHL game will kick off tonight at 7 p.m. ET. 

Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks channel: 

The Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks game will air on NHL Network and will be available to stream live on ESPN+. 

How to watch the Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks without cable: 

Washington Capitals remaining season schedule: 

If Ovechkin doesn't break the record this time, there's always the next game. 

April 4:

vs. Blackhawks

April 6:

at Islanders

April 10:

vs. Hurricanes

April 12:

at Blue Jackets

April 13:

vs. Blue Jackets

April 15:

at Islanders

April 17:

at Penguins

More ways to watch NHL Network: 

Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky for NHL's all-time scoring record originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Great One has company.

Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored in NHL history, netting his 894th career goal in the third period of the Washington Capitals‘ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night.

The record-tying goal, which was Ovi’s second of the game, gave the Caps a 4-3 lead with 13:47 left in regulation.

Ovechkin’s chase of the career goals record has been dubbed “The GR8 Chase.”

Gretzky was in the building with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to witness the historic moment by the 39-year-old Ovechkin.

Gretzky had held the scoring record since 1994 when he tallied his 802nd goal to pass Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. Gretzky, who played primarily for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, scored his 894th and final goal came on March 29, 1999 as a member of the New York Rangers. He retired three weeks later at the age of 38, concluding a historic 20-year NHL career.

His scoring record had stood since — with Jaromir Jagr scoring 766 goals before retiring in 2018 and Brett Hull netting 741 goals before closing his 19-year career in 2006.

Then came Ovechkin, who after being selected first overall in the 2004 draft, scored 52 goals as a rookie, including two in his debut on October 5, 2005.

That was nearly 20 years and 892 goals ago.

Ovechkin scored a career best 65 goals during his third season in 2007-2008. He has recorded nine 50-plus goal seasons, matching the record shared by Gretzky and New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy. He has scored 40 or more goals in a season 14 times, which topped Gretzky’s record of 12.

Along the way, Ovechkin won nine Rocket Richard Trophies for most goals scored in a season, three Hart Trophies as most valuable player, and the 2017 Stanley Cup, which was the first in Capitals’ franchise history.

Ovechkin entered his 20th NHL season in October needing 42 goals to top a record once believed to be unbreakable. He missed 16 games earlier this season with a fractured left fibula, pushing the record pursuit closer to the end of the season.

He now shares the league’s hallowed scoring record with the sport’s most revered player.

“Alex has been exceptional for our game,” Gretzky told CNBC earlier this season. “I hope I’m the first guy to shake his hand when he does break the record.”

Ovechkin needs two to tie and three to break Gretzky's record of 894 career goals.

Alex Ovechkin is a hat trick away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's goal record, and the Toronto Maple Leafs will be watching.

The 39-year-old and the Washington Capitals are hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. Seven games remain for Ovechkin to reach a feat that was once thought to be unbreakable.

John Tavares, who's been on a hot streak since the 4 Nations Face-Off with 15 goals and 10 assists, says he'll be watching as Ovechkin looks to inch closer to the record against Chicago.

THREE. GOALS. LEFT. 😱

Alex Ovechkin is getting closer and closer to the all-time NHL goals record 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OwXxNK2F3o

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 3, 2025

"It's pretty remarkable that we're going to see something that's hard to fathom to be broken in Wayne's record and what Ovie's done in the league," Tavares said. "I wouldn't be surprised if many guys around the league tune in to see it and maybe see it live."

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a veteran of over 1000 games in the league, has faced off against Ovechkin 24 times. He credits the goal scorer for how many times he's found the back of the net in what most people call his office.

"It's impressive. Obviously, it's a lot of goals. It's not easy to score in this league, so it's fun to watch," Ekman-Larsson said.

"Playing against him, too, you know how hard it is to go against him and that shot. Seems like everybody knows that he's going to be in that spot, but it's still hard to defend. But yeah, it's impressive."

William Nylander spent time around Ovechkin as a child since his father, Michael, was on the Capitals from 2007 to 2009. Nylander looked back on the time spent around Ovechkin with a smile, saying he'd play pranks on him and his brother, Alex.

"When we were on the ice after (practices), he took our sticks and put them above the penalty box area where the camera was," William smiled. "He just put them up there so we couldn't reach them."

"He took our sticks and hid them."

William Nylander remember Alex Ovechkin playing pranks on the kids while Michael Nylander was his teammate. pic.twitter.com/KGUM8Y1R04

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 4, 2025

Nylander is a goal scorer himself, with 259 goals in 678 career NHL games. But even he didn't think Gretzky's goal record would be broken.

"I mean, just incredible. I don't think anybody thought that that would happen. And now he's there, and it's probably going to happen very soon here. So, I mean, it's just incredible to be able to see it happen."

If Ovechkin doesn't break the record tonight, he'll have six more games to reach — and potentially — break the feat. The Capitals play the New York Islanders on Sunday before having a couple of days off until they face the Carolina Hurricanes next Thursday.

It might feel like a long week for fans around the NHL, but it'll certainly be worth the wait if, and when, he breaks the record.

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