By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

March 17, 2024

Washington Capitals defeated Vancouver Canucks 2-1 at Rogers Arena on Saturday March 16, 2024.

Besides being notable for a Canucks loss, two goals were history making.

Alex Ovechkin scored the winning goal, his 841rst goal of his career, 53 goals back of the NHL record set by Wayne Gretzky.

For Ovechkin, it was his 127th game-winning goal, trailing only Jaromir Jagr (135) for the most in NHL history. Ovechkin, has 19 goals, one away from scoring 20 for the 19th straight season. 

Quinn Hughes assisted on Vancouver’s only goal of the game scored by Brock Boeser.

The assist boosted his 2023-24 totals to 13-64=77 points in 68 games played, surpassing his 2022-23 total of 7-69=76 points in 78 games played, to establish a Canucks record for most points in a season by a defenseman.

Boeser made it 1-0 at 1:11 of the first period, when he tipped Hughes’ wrist shot past Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren.

Tom Wilson and Ovechkin scored 1:53 apart in the second period for Washington, who hung on for the win.

Lindgren made 21 saves for the Capitals (32-25-9), and Casey DeSmith made 22 saves for the Canucks (42-18-8), their first loss in regulation in the last 6-games (4-1-1).

The Canucks next play the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night in game 4 of their current 9-game homestand which is currently standing at 1-1-1 after three games played.

Source: nhl.com