BOSTON -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 891st career goal, moving him four away from passing Wayne Gretzky's NHL record, and Dylan Strome broke a third-period tie Tuesday night to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins.

Ovechkin gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead with about four minutes left in the first period, pushing a cross-crease pass from Strome into an open net. He has 12 goals in his past 18 games and eight games remaining this season to catch Gretzky.

The 39-year-old Russian, who also shot wide on an empty net in the final minutes, will continue his pursuit Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes.

"It's getting close," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. "You can feel it. You can definitely feel it."

Ovechkin entered the season 42 goals short of breaking the regular-season record by The Great One that had long seemed unapproachable. Now in his 20th NHL season, Ovechkin was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. He sat out 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals' first game after the Christmas break.

"I go back to when he was injured and out for a while. When that happened, everyone was kind of thinking to themselves whether or not it was going to be possible," goaltender Charlie Lindgren said. "But anything's possible with Alex Ovechkin. We've seen that this far. We've got eight games to go, and the best thing about it is it doesn't feel like there's any pressure at all. And the team's enjoying it."

Earlier this season, the Washington captain became the 60th player to record 700 career assists. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists, one of several milestones in his career.

On Tuesday, the club padded its lead in the Eastern Conference standings, as Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson also scored for Washington. Lindgren made 21 saves to help the first-place Capitals end a three-game losing streak.

"I thought we had a decent first [period], and it got away from us in the second," Strome said on the Capitals' postgame show on the Monumental Sports Network. "They obviously took it to us. We got a 2-0 lead, and maybe thought it was going to be easy. But they're a good team, and we had to find a way to battle back in the third and get some timely goals."

Ovechkin is averaging a little less than two goals every three games. At that pace, he would pass Gretzky in the penultimate game of the season, at the New York Islanders on April 15.

David Pastrnak had two goals, Vinni Lettieri scored one and Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots for Boston, which lost its ninth in a row.

The Bruins came back in the second, getting a goal from Lettieri six minutes into the second and then the tying score by Pastrnak with three minutes left in the period. But Strome gave Washington the lead midway through the third, grabbing a rebound off the back wall and slipping it past Swayman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil may miss the rest of the season after experiencing a setback in his attempt to return from another concussion.

Coach Rick Tocchet said Tuesday that Chytil has experienced good and bad days trying to work back. The 25-year-old from the Czech Republic has not played since getting concussed when he was hit from behind by Chicago's Jason Dickinson on March 15.

"He would go out and skate and felt good, the next day not as good," Tocchet said. "To be honest with you guys, does he play this year? Maybe the odds are against it. Plus you don't want to put a guy in that type of position. But when a guy has good days and bad days, obviously you're not going to play the guy."

Asked if there was concern about Chytil's hockey-playing career continuing because of his concussion history, Tocchet added he was not sure.

"I talked to him today and he said it was different than his last concussion," Tocchet said. "The bad days aren't as bad, so that's a positive, so I think we've got to take the positive approach. Plus he's got four, five months to rebuild himself, or who knows? We've just got to take it day by day with this guy right now."

Vancouver acquired Chytil in late January as part of the return for trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. Chytil has already had multiple concussions in the NHL and does not turn 26 until September.

The Canucks, who are making a desperate push to make the playoffs, are also not sure about the status of center Elias Pettersson, who has not played since getting injured March 22 against the Rangers. Tocchet said Pettersson was day to day.

Captain Quinn Hughes has missed time for a lower-body injury and winger Brock Boeser was temporarily sidelined by a concussion. All-Star goalie Thatcher Demko missed training camp and the beginning of the season as he worked his way back from a rare knee injury, then went down with another injury in February.

"There's been a lot of things that've hit this team," Tocchet said. "And you're looking for culture stuff, right? Who's all in and who's not. When you have a lot of guys all buying in, you can withstand some stuff."

The Canucks (34-27-13) are chasing the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference as they get set to host the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.

The odds of making a playoff run aren't in Vancouver's favor, but everyone on the team is staying committed, Demko said, even as injuries continue to ravage the lineup.

"I think as a group, we've been through a lot this year," Demko said. "It's obviously not an easy situation right now with some of the guys out, but I feel like our effort's been there every game. We haven't mailed it in, we're not using it as an excuse. We're showing up every night and giving it a solid effort. So really proud of the guys coming together and trying to get some wins here.

New York Islanders coach Patrick Roy said forward Anthony Duclair was "god-awful" in their loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, and that the veteran is failing to meet expectations.

Duclair played 12 minutes, 15 seconds in the Islanders' 4-1 loss to the Lightning with zero points and finished at minus-1. He had only four shifts in the third period. It was the third straight game in which Duclair played 12:15 or less. He has averaged 15:03 in ice time this season, his first with the Islanders.

"He was god-awful. He was god-awful. He had a bad game. That's why I didn't play him a lot. And he's lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that's how I feel," Roy said.

When asked what he's seeing in Duclair's game, the Islanders coach said "it's an effort thing" for the veteran forward.

"He's not skating, he's not competing, he's not moving his feet. He's not playing up to what we expect from him," Roy said.

Duclair has seven goals and four assists in 44 games with the Islanders, skating to a minus-15. The 29-year-old winger is averaging one point per 60 minutes -- which would be a career low for the 11-year veteran. Duclair signed a four-year, $14-million free agent contract with the Islanders last summer and has a full no-trade clause through 2026.

New York is winless in its past six games, struggling down the stretch while chasing the final wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders trail the Montreal Canadiens by five points with eight games to play.

As the defending Presidents' Trophy winners, the New York Rangers were envisioned as a playoff team again in 2024-25. As the team on top of the league standings in early December, similar words could be written about the Minnesota Wild.

And yet, heading into Wednesday night's matchup between the clubs (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), nothing is certain about either team's playoff chances after the pair has gone 8-9-3 in the past 10 games apiece.

The Wild enter the game in a playoff position, and have a 93.7% chance to make the playoffs per Stathletes. A key part of that is the team's remaining strength of schedule; their remaining opponents have a 46.0% winning percentage, which is the second-easiest path. (Only the New Jersey Devils face a weaker slate in the final stretch.)

Compare that to the Rangers, who have a 19.0% chance, and will begin this game on the outside looking in. New York's remaining slate is considerably more difficult; a 54.1% opponents' winning percentage ranks as the second toughest, behind only the Detroit Red Wings.

If the Wild qualify as the first wild card, their likely first-round opponent is the Vegas Golden Knights; if they land in the second wild-card position, their likely opponent is the Winnipeg Jets. Unfortunately, Minnesota went 0-3 against both teams this season.

The Rangers' more likely outcome as a playoff entrant is as the second wild card, which earns them a matchup against the Washington Capitals; the Caps have won all three games against New York this season. The Rangers could wind up as the first wild card, earning a matchup against the Atlantic Division champ. They went 1-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, 0-2 against the Florida Panthers (with one more game coming up on April 14), and 0-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning (with games coming up on April 7 and April 17).

So, the future isn't blindingly bright in the playoffs for these teams. But all you need is a ticket in, and unexpected things can happen!

There are just over two weeks left until the season's end on April 17, and we'll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Yesterday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Wednesday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Minnesota Wild at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday's scoreboard

Washington Capitals 4, Boston Bruins 3
Montreal Canadiens 3, Florida Panthers 2 (OT)
Buffalo Sabres 5, Ottawa Senators 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 8, Nashville Predators 4
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New York Islanders 1
St. Louis Blues 2, Detroit Red Wings 1 (OT)
Utah Hockey Club 3, Calgary Flames 1
Edmonton Oilers 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2
Anaheim Ducks 4, San Jose Sharks 3 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 4, Winnipeg Jets 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 104.1
Next game: vs. FLA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 103.1
Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 102.0
Next game: @ TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 93.1
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 87.5
Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 51.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 2.3%
Tragic number: 13

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 77.6
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 8

Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 75.4
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 5

Metro Division

x - Washington Capitals

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 116.4
Next game: @ CAR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 105.6
Next game: vs. WSH (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 93.9
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 86.5
Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 25.5%
Tragic number: 17

New York Rangers

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 85.3
Next game: vs. MIN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 19.0%
Tragic number: 15

New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 3.1%
Tragic number: 12

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 77.6
Next game: @ STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 7

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 76.6
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 5

Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 115.9
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 113.0
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 96.0
Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 96.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 96.2
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 93.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 87.5
Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 7

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 67.8
Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 56.5
Next game: vs. COL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 108.6
Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 103.1
Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100.8
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 90.9
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 6.4%
Tragic number: 11

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 89.8
Next game: vs. SEA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 2.4%
Tragic number: 10

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82.0
Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 3

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 74.3
Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 55.4
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

4. Seattle Kraken

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25

5. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26

6. Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

7. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

9. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23

10. New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25

11. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26

12. New York Rangers

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 32

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26

Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery smiles while discussing "the few faceoff plays" they run for Alex Ovechkin.

When it's from the right circle, the Capitals call it "Shooter Back." From the left circle, they call it "Board Side O" -- as in, "board side Ovechkin." Numerous goals have come from these play designs, which have been so successful that every other team in the NHL has its own version -- albeit without Ovechkin on the finishing end.

Ovechkin's legacy is about scoring goals -- as he closes in on Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 -- and these plays are an instrumental part of that legacy. So much so that the area in the left faceoff circle has become known as "Ovi's Office."

Ovechkin became synonymous with faceoff goals because of the play designs and his ability to get a shot off whether the puck is flat or wobbly. There's also the Capitals' ability -- even as Ovechkin gets older -- to supply him with a certain archetype of teammate that has helped foster continuity and make adjustments as he approaches the record. "The reality is all you're trying to do is get the puck in his hands, on his stick, and let him get a clean shot off anywhere inside the top of the circles," Carbery said.

Ovechkin scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 5, 2005. That was before leading rookie of the year contender Macklin Celebrini was born -- his birthday is June 13, 2006. Ovechkin can score from anywhere on the ice, but the faceoff circle is where he has done much of his damage -- 210 of them since 2007-08, according to MoneyPuck data.

Multiple coaches and players from across the NHL agreed Ovechkin's pursuit of Gretzky's record is a testament to consistency -- not just for Ovechkin, but the Capitals, who are still placing their franchise's all-time greatest player in a position to succeed.

"One of the things that's not talked about a ton with the reason he's had faceoff circle success is he's pretty much always had a left-handed centerman," one NHL assistant coach said. "Now, it's Dylan Strome. Before that, it was Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom. It works out really well because he's a right-handed shot and they're pulling out on to his forehand. If he had a right-handed center, it would be even more difficult for those plays to work."

After nearly two decades, through a career that started in the dead puck era and continues with the net front now en vogue, nobody has found a way to consistently prevent Ovechkin from scoring from the faceoff circle -- even though everyone in the building knows where he's going to set up. As those around the NHL explain it, there are so many decisions opponents must make -- and moving parts to be accounted for -- that it will lead to Ovechkin and the Capitals inevitably finding an advantage.

"He's probably going to be the best goal scorer in history, which makes it the hardest job to defend him," Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, who was Ovechkin's teammate in the 2019-20 season, said. "It's really about anticipating and not giving him as much space as he wants. But for some reason, he keeps finding it and keeps scoring goals.

"In the first game I ever played against Washington, he scored four goals, and you're just asking, 'How did this happen?'"

WHAT EXACTLY MAKES "Board Side O" so hard to stop? The assistant coach explains it using a series of video clips. The first starts with Strome, a left-handed center, winning the faceoff. Once the draw is done, Ovechkin is already within 5 inches of the puck.

The coach said Ovechkin not only gets off the line quickly, he is usually moving before his opponent. This allows him to create separation, and it's a recipe he has perfected over his 20-year career.

But it's not just that early separation. The coach points out how the puck is wobbling and difficult to control. Still, Ovechkin fires on net without needing even half a second to get off a perfect shot.

"Ninety-nine percent of the league, the moment this puck is fumbled, it's not a shot on goal, it's not a scoring chance," the assistant said. "He finds a way to get pucks through no matter what. That's an elite skill that he has that's just as good or better than anyone else in the league has."

The assistant shows more clips of "Board Side O" before switching to footage of what makes "Shooter Back" equally successful on the other side of the ice. With the faceoff on the right side, Ovechkin is on the inside part of the ice. He still has a left-handed center pulling the puck toward him and he instantly fires a shot with another rolling, wobbly puck that beats the goalie.

Steven Stamkos -- tied for 22nd all-time with 577 goals -- said there are numerous moving parts that must fall into place to score from the faceoff circle. The shooter needs playmakers who can distribute, and he needs to find space to get to the faceoff circle. Being in the right position leads to east-to-west passes, which result in shots that are hard for the goalie to stop.

He added that the speed of the pass often dictates where the shooter aims. But the goal is to fire the puck so quickly that the goalie doesn't have time to react.

"The faceoff dot, per se, between the hashmark is kind of like the quiet area in the defensive zone," Stamkos said. "For him and I, it's a spot where we've had a lot of success and you just keep going back to what works."

What Ovechkin does with his shot prompted the assistant to compare Ovechkin to a baseball player. He said many NHL players practice one-timers with the idea that if the puck is off by 6 inches, they won't take the shot. Ovechkin will take the shot.

"If you groove a fastball down the middle, any guy can hit that," the assistant said. "What about a pitch on the edge of the strike zone? That's what Ovechkin does so well. He can hit all those pitches.

"He can take those imperfect passes and not only get pucks on the net, but he can get them through defenders and put them in a difficult place for a goalie to save."

OVECHKIN'S PRODUCTION FROM the faceoff circle has stirred debate on what qualifies as a high-danger scoring chance. Because if it's Ovechkin in the faceoff circle? That's about as dangerous as it gets.

"The thing with him is he doesn't need much space," Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. "You just need to be one second late and he's going to score."

Anyone who has watched Ovechkin has seen what this looks like; he finds space in the faceoff circle before dropping to one knee and blasting a one-timer that's usually followed by him celebrating.

Barry Trotz, who coached Ovechkin for four seasons including winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, said the Caps' power play is designed to create two choices for opponents: focus on Ovechkin and leave everyone else open, or concentrate on the other four skaters with the hopes none of them can get the puck to Ovechkin.

Each choice provides a problem. Those playmaking centers are either going to find someone else, or they can score themselves. There are also the puck-moving defensemen with hard shots, like Mike Green and John Carlson, while wingers such as T.J. Oshie, Alexander Semin and Tom Wilson have occupied different spaces -- and scored many goals.

"They've been so good for so long, and he's a much better passer than people realize," Trotz said of Ovechkin, who is 56th in NHL history with 724 assists. "If he knows he can't get the puck through, he's a good passer as well and doesn't get enough credit for that."

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said there's a reason penalty killers are still trying to figure out Ovechkin.

"Guys like him and [Stamkos] like to shoot it, they like to establish their shot but they also know a lot of times there's going to be a guy in the lane blocking the shot and somebody else might be open," McDonagh said. "They have the ability to find that passing lane and create a scoring chance for someone else."

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy said Ovechkin's shot is both powerful and the hardest to track in the NHL, comparing it to a knuckleball that somehow moves at a high rate of speed.

Vasilevskiy said that while goalies are trained to stop flat shots at various speeds, the movement and power Ovechkin generates can't really be replicated. That's because it changes direction "at least three or four times" before reaching the net, he said.

"Even when it's flat, it's hard to stop," Vasilevskiy said. "But when it's a knuckleball, it's nearly impossible. You're just trying to get in a good position and hope to block it. There's no chance to react against such a shot."

Josi added that it's also a very difficult for a defenseman to block.

"It is heavy. But at the same time while it's heavy, he also knows where it's going," Josi said. "A lot of times, I think he knows when you're trying to block it and he finds a way to get around it."

INJURIES TO BACKSTROM and Oshie, along with Kuznetsov being traded last spring, meant the Capitals were in transition. They still reached the playoffs in 2023-24 as a wild-card entry, ranking 18th on the power play (20.6%) and 28th in goals per game (2.63).

The changes impacted Ovechkin's production. He finished with 31 goals and 65 points, which are the lowest totals he has recorded in each category for a single season in which he played more than 70 games.

This season, the Capitals are atop the Eastern Conference standings, and leading the NHL with 3.58 goals per game while their power play is ninth, with a 23.7% success rate.

"You can't just plug someone in and expect them to be Nicklas Backstrom," Carbery said. "He is so gifted and talented in that area that it's unfair to say, 'Dylan Strome, go be Nicklas Backstom.' His skill set is different. We had to go through a process of trial and error. We had to learn that for ourselves. Everyone said, 'Let's do it the way we've done it for 10 years because that's been so successful' -- but that's not the way it works."

Strome said in his first couple games, he always looked for Ovechkin no matter where they were on the ice. That's what Strome did when he played alongside Patrick Kane when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks.

But what Strome learned was that he now has the freedom to carry the puck into the offensive zone. Then, it's about finding Ovechkin in different spaces.

"Whenever you are playing with someone who has those guys' skill level, your senses are heightened and you want to get them the puck whenever you can," Strome said. "You want to be a complementary piece to those guys who've done it a long time. Those guys are always at the top of their game and it puts that extra pressure on you to make sure you play well enough so they want you on their line."

Natural Stat Trick's metrics show Strome has played more than 480 minutes in 5-on-5 play with Ovechkin this season. Ovechkin has had 88 minutes when he hasn't played with Strome at 5-on-5, while they've spent more than 142 minutes together on the power play.

Wilson, who has been with the Capitals for 12 seasons, said playing with Ovechkin is all about how one understands space. He said that his role from the moment he joined the team was to do whatever he could to either create space for Ovechkin or find Ovechkin in those spaces by constantly forechecking to win possession.

Talking about the time they played together, Wilson joked that together they provided "a lot of body" for opponents. Ovechkin stands at 6-foot-2 with a playing weight between 220 and 238 pounds, while Wilson is 6-4 and 220 pounds.

"He also creates a lot of room," Wilson said. "Everyone assumes when he gets the puck, that he's going to shoot. I've had a ton of goals in my career where he finds me. He doesn't shoot it, but he passes. I've had a lot of benefits from him being able to find me on the backdoor or in the slot. But his shot is a cheat code because it does open everything up."

Carlson and Wilson have seen Ovechkin score hundreds of times, but they both said this season has been so much fun to watch. They talked about how every arena they go to is filled with people who want to see Ovechkin get closer to a record.

The desire to be on the ice for the record-breaking goal has led to some lobbying by players, which makes Carbery smile.

"Oh, of course!" Carlson said when asked if he wants to have a hand in Ovechkin's historic goal. "I think everybody does. I think that's on everyone's mind."

Wilson said: "Everyone wants to be a part of history and everyone will be a part of history. It doesn't matter who's on or who passes it. I just think being able to tell your kids about that one day and being a part of it is going to be something I'll never forget."

LaLiga say Barcelona have never had the salary space to register Dani Olmo or Pau Víctor with Spain's sports ministry (CSD) due to rule this week on whether the duo can play again this season.

The league has questioned the 100 million deal which led to the CSD granting Olmo and Víctor temporary registrations in January, saying they will report the unnamed auditor Barça used to verify the sale of VIP seats at Spotify Camp Nou, which is being redeveloped.

The deal was not recorded in the accounts Barça submitted to LaLiga last week for the 2024-25 season, which were approved by a different auditor.

"The financial statements show Barcelona did not have on Dec. 31, 2024, nor on Jan. 3, 2025, nor since that date the capacity to register Olmo and Víctor," the league said in a statement on Wednesday.

LaLiga add that they have subsequently communicated to Barça "the reduction of their spending limit," which had risen to 463m in February, while forwarding all information to the CSD and reporting the unnamed auditor to Spain's Institute of Accounting and Auditing of Accounts (ICAC).

A club source told ESPN that Barça did not plan to respond to LaLiga's statement. The CSD are due to make a final decision before April 7 on whether Olmo and Víctor's registrations should be revoked for the rest of the season.

The issue has been ongoing since the turn of the year when Barça missed a Dec. 31 deadline to prove they were compliant with LaLiga's financial regulations in order to register Olmo and Víctor for the second half of the campaign.

They had initially received temporary registrations via a league rule which allowed them to be registered in the place of a long-term injured player, in this case Andreas Christensen.

LaLiga later confirmed the sale of VIP seats for 100m had brought the club back within the regulations on Jan. 3, but that the chance to prolong Olmo and Víctor's registrations had passed.

Barça appealed that decision to the CSD, who agreed to reinstate the registrations while they analysed the case during a three month window, which is up this week.

The CSD's decision provoked outrage across the league, with LaLiga president Javier Tebas and Athletic Club chief Jon Uriarte voicing their complaints, while several top flight clubs also released statements questioning the ruling.

Olmo, who joined Barça from RB Leipzig last summer for around 60m, is sidelined with an adductor injury which is set to rule him out until the middle of April.

Since the CSD's ruling, the Spain international has made 13 appearances in all competitions, including seven in LaLiga, scoring two goals and providing four assists.

Víctor, meanwhile, has featured just five times in the same period. All of the young forward's outings have come as a substitute.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has said he does not feel "disrespected" by Mauricio Pochettino claiming he wants to manage the club again and insisted he hopes it happens one day.

Pochettino, now in charge of the United States men's national team, last month reiterated his desire to take charge of Spurs in the future after spending 5 years in north London up to 2019, reaching the Champions League final that year and securing four top-four finishes in the Premier League.

Although the 53-year-old remains focused on leading the USMNT into next year's World Cup finals -- to be staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada -- but his comments come at a time when Postecoglou is under mounting pressure with Tottenham languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table after losing 15 of their 29 games.

Spurs travel to Chelsea on Thursday before hosting bottom club Southampton ahead of a Europa League quarterfinal tie against Eintracht Frankfurt which may have a significant bearing on whether Postecoglou remains in charge.

He will have one year remaining on his contract this summer, although the club have an option to extend by a further season.

Asked about Pochettino's desire to return and the timing of his comments, Postecoglou said on Wednesday: "Mauricio, if he wants to come back one day, I hope it happens for him. We all have dreams and aspirations and if that's what he wants. You're suggesting that he's trying to put pressure on me?

"Well, I don't feel disrespected. I think if you ask Mauricio that question directly, you'd get a pretty clear answer as to what his intent was. Again, nothing from me to sort of be consumed with. I'm more focused on trying to make sure we win tomorrow night."

Sources have told ESPN that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham manager Marco Silva and Brentford's Thomas Frank are among the possible candidates to replace Postecoglou, although the club currently remain fully supportive of the 59-year-old.

Discussing the ongoing speculation, Postecoglou said: "I don't deal with it, mate. I know what my responsibilities are. I'm sure if the club decides to go in a different direction there's some outstanding candidates out there for it. And you know what, maybe someone will think, 'Ah Ange Postecoglou's not a bad coach, maybe we'll take a punt on him'. It doesn't rock my world.

"It doesn't consume me. I'm here, I'm passionate about what we're doing. I was brought in to change the way the club plays, rejuvenate the squad, bring success, I'm focused on that. That's what I'll keep doing."

Brazil striker Richarlison is back in training following a calf problem but is unlikely to face Chelsea.

Kevin Danso (hamstring) and Dejan Kulusevski (foot) are both absent for the club's next three games at least.

LONDON -- The expectation on Bukayo Saka to revive Arsenal's season has grown with each passing week and against Fulham, it took him just seven minutes to begin answering the call.

Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Fulham showcased the before and after. In what has become customary during the absences of Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and others, the Gunners labored for long periods against a Fulham side requiring five changes to freshen up weary legs following an FA Cup quarterfinal defeat to Crystal Palace. Their only breakthrough came via a deflected first-half strike from makeshift forward Mikel Merino.

There was a palpable sense of drift inside Emirates Stadium. Only the headstrong dreamers still cling to the belief Liverpool can be caught in the Premier League title race, and the rest cast a lingering eye towards a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash with Real Madrid, which begins next week.

They need reinvigorating in attack and an injection of self-belief after a chastening period which exposed shortcomings in Arsenal's squad set to be addressed this summer by new sporting director Andrea Berta, watching on here from the director's box flanked by managing director Richard Garlick and executive vice chairman Tim Lewis.

Until then, the responsibility rests on Saka's shoulders. And this was a fine way to start, introduced to raucous applause on 66 minutes and finding the net with his fifth touch after a 100-day absence following hamstring surgery.

"He lifted the stadium, the energy and [it is] great to have him back," said Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

The finish was a simple one, stooping to meet a sublime Gabriel Martinelli flick at the far post, but the impact felt greater. Arsenal have lacked a cutting edge, and here it was, with Rodrigo Muniz's stoppage-time reply for Fulham ensuring Saka's intervention was the match-winning moment.

The contrast between the team's profligacy before the international break compared with Saka scoring through his only shot of the night is marked. He celebrated with Sam Wilson, the club's lead physical performance coach, who has overseen his rehabilitation.

"We all love this kind of recognition and gestures because it goes beyond the professional side of it and there is a connection there that is so necessary and to be able to appreciate as well the amount of work and stress as well and responsibility that they have to go through," said Arteta.

"There are probably a lot of times where it's just those two alone at the training ground together when maybe he's getting back on the grass and kind of getting back closer to fitness."

Saka's career is littered with statistical milestones, and here was another: the 23-year-old has now scored and assisted 10 or more goals across all competitions in each of the last three seasons. He is the first Arsenal player to do so since Alexis Sánchez between 2014 and 2017.

And yet, with Madrid in mind, Arsenal's display prompted a debate over what could have a bigger impact on Arsenal's fate: Saka's return or any lengthy absence for Gabriel Magalhães?

The Brazilian's center-back partnership with William Saliba is the bedrock of this Arsenal side, and the sight of him limping off with a hamstring problem early in the first half felt decidedly destabilising.

One second half moment summed up the concern. Jakub Kiwior -- Gabriel's replacement -- was slow on the uptake, and Adama Traoré nipped in ahead of him, bursting forward only to ignore a square pass to the unmarked Raúl Jiménez and fire a shot so wayward it went out for a throw-in.

Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé or Rodrygo are unlikely to be so wasteful. Muniz also missed from inside the six-yard box after good work from fellow substitute Alex Iwobi before he squeezed a shot past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya via a deflection off Saliba.

Injuries have been a persistent theme this season, so much so that a manager notorious for his meticulous planning has found it difficult to strategize from one week to the next.

"You're scratching your head," he said. "I know in the next few games, [it will be] the same.

"But at the same time, it's been a great learning experience for us and all the coaches and staff to manage that situation. At the end, the players are going to react to how we react to it.

"If you start to feel sorry for yourself and say, 'Ah, it's impossible, how are we going to do this?', it will be impossible, but these boys, they don't give you the reason to act like that."

Saka may need to add even more potency to Arsenal's attack to offset a weaker Arsenal defense if Gabriel misses out against Real. Jurriën Timber was also substituted 13 minutes from the end with a knee problem, the same area of the body affecting two more defenders, Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White.

Martinelli had one of his more industrious evenings and was unfortunate not to add a goal of his own -- a late effort ruled out correctly for offside -- but it was Saka's reemergence that offers the biggest hope that Arsenal can still end this season on a high.

NOTTINGHAM, England -- Anthony Elanga chose a muted celebration after his wonderful solo goal against Manchester United, but the smile that crept over his face gave away the quiet satisfaction of scoring against his former club.

Who could blame him? Man United decided Elanga wasn't good enough when he was allowed to move to Nottingham Forest. A key part of manager Nuno Espirito Santo's revolution at the City Ground, he'll probably be playing in the Champions League next season.

Forest's 1-0 win over United -- earned thanks to Elanga, their flying Swedish winger -- cemented their place in the Premier League's top four. After a 13th league defeat of the season, Elanga's former Man United teammates are facing the prospect of finishing the season in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 1990.

"All you want to do is keep on improving, coming here is about playing and developing," Elanga told TNT Sports after helping Forest to their first league double over United in more than 30 years. "I appreciate Manchester United so much as I learned a lot there. I am enjoying my football and I want to keep on going."

It's players like Elanga who show just how hard it will be for manager Ruben Amorim to turn United around. It's not just about finding good players -- it's about finding players who are able to thrive at United.

"In Manchester United, you don't have the time," said Amorim, when asked about Elanga's impact at Forest. "I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast. You are not talking about players that didn't play for Manchester United. They were here playing for Manchester United. Here, the pressure is too big sometimes."

There was barely any dissent from supporters when Elanga moved to Forest for 15 million in 2023. If anything, it was viewed as a good deal for an academy graduate who had been at the club since the age of 12.

But away from the glare of the Old Trafford spotlight, he's flourished. His goal against United was his sixth in the league this season. It was by far his best. After picking up the ball deep in Forest's half, his explosive pace took him 85 metres in under nine seconds. After that, he still had the strength to shrug off Alejandro Garnacho and the calmness of mind to coolly pass his finish into the net.

"It is about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quickly as I can," said Elanga. "I saw the space and I believe I'm one of the fastest players in the league. The finish is something I have been trying to work on. Left foot or right foot, I am quite comfortable with both feet this season."

It was the type of thrilling attacking play that United fans have missed for a while. Most would probably gladly have Elanga back in the squad, particularly after watching Garnacho have a miserable game against Forest in which he was wasteful with his passing and shooting.

Elanga's step up since leaving United isn't isolated. Marcus Rashford has looked a better player at Aston Villa and, after scoring twice against Preston North End on Sunday, is preparing to play in the Champions League quarterfinals next week. Antony, who left on loan in January with Rashford, has impressed at Real Betis.

"We are we are talking about a lot of players that come from Manchester United and they are doing right, but they had the chance here," said Amorim. "Sometimes you don't have time and you should have time for these kids to develop, but for that you need a strong base to support all these kids.

"If you don't have that strong base, we are not going to help our kids. So they had their chances and sometimes football is like that, the pressure of playing from Manchester United is really big."

Decisions on Elanga, Rashford and Antony aren't necessarily mistakes, but they do provide a warning for Amorim ahead of a summer in which he will hope to make wholesale changes.

New signings come with a risk -- particularly at United -- and it's damning that of all the players who have come through the door since the last title in 2013, only Bruno Fernandes is considered a successful investment. That needs to change quickly if United are going to challenge for the Premier League again.

Fernandes is still comfortably United's best player. He had an off night against Forest and the result was that Amorim's team created very little.

Despite facing 23 shots, Matz Sels didn't have much to do to keep his 13th clean sheet in the league this season. Diogo Dalot hit the crossbar with a looping header in the first half and Murillo cleared Harry Maguire's bundled shot off the line in the last minute of stoppage time. That was about all United had to show for nearly 70 percent of possession.

"We created some chances but we could create more with the possession that we had, we reached the final third a lot of times," said Amorim. "We need to be better in that final third because that is really important to score goals and you have a lack of those. In the final third, we were not good enough."

United defended well and dominated the ball, but it was only when Maguire was thrown on as an emergency centre forward that they looked consistently dangerous.

It was more proof, if any was needed, that adding goals to the squad in the summer will be vital to Amorim's hopes of making a step forward next season.

That, though, will require making the right decision on the right player at the right time. And as Elanga has shown since making the move to Forest, it's easier said than done.