Six games remain, seven points out.
The New York Islanders etched themselves into the history books as the team on the receiving end of Wayne Gretzky’s iconic 802nd goal—this time in a different context, as Alex Ovechkin wrapped up his pursuit of Gretzky’s regular-season goal record Sunday afternoon during a 4-1 Islanders victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Long Island.
The win keeps the Islanders’ slim wild card hopes alive for now, though the season still feels like one many fans would rather forget. Meanwhile, Montreal continued its surge, picking up a fifth straight win and extending its lead over the Isles to seven points.
Islanders News
Putting yesterday’s moment in proper perspective: a memorable afternoon for Marc Gatcomb. [LHH]
Jokes aside, it was great to see Gatcomb get some recognition. A helper from Matt Martin—accidental or not—was the cherry on top of a quirky milestone.
With the record now broken and the Islanders securing a win, some may say “everyone went home happy”—but that might be a stretch. [Newsday]
It was labeled a “huge” win for the Islanders—if you’re still clinging to hope. (Personally, I can’t say I am.) [Post]
Around the League
As mentioned, the Canadiens and Red Wings both picked up wins on Sunday, while the Blue Jackets took a loss. That leaves the Islanders seven points and three teams away from a playoff spot, though they do have one game in hand on Montreal.
The Senators also grabbed a win, creeping closer to officially locking in a spot—and perhaps even overtaking a slumping Florida squad. [Sportsnet]
During the mid-game ceremony, Ovechkin gave a heartfelt thank you to Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie, both visibly emotional. They found it fitting that none other than Tom Wilson assisted on the record-breaking goal. [NHL]
The NHL has gone all in on Ovechkin coverage if you’re into that sort of thing. [NHL]
Among the highlights is a letter from Ted Leonsis, written ahead of time, reflecting on the journey he and Ovechkin have shared with the Capitals—all while wondering why they couldn’t have given him better uniforms through the years. [NHL]
You’ll also find ESPN’s ranking of Ovi’s top 20 NHL goals—including playoff tallies (shh…we’re pretending that’s okay). [ESPN]
Sportsnet went even bigger, calling the moment “larger than the game of hockey.” [Sportsnet]
Leave a Reply