Alex Ovechkin became the second NHL skater to reach a 1,000 combined regular-season and postseason goals during the Washington Capitals‘ 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday afternoon. Washington’s captain scored the game-tying goal with just over five minutes remaining in the third period to even up the score at two. However, the overtime session was entirely controlled by Colorado, who secured the winner’s point in the standings on Brock Nelson’s 32nd goal of the 2025-26 season.
While Washington was able to secure a point in the contest, the defeat represents another lost opportunity as the NHL’s postseason starts to slide further and further away. The Capitals’ 4-4-2 record over their last 10 games has not helped their prospects of returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs next month.
Ovechkin Nets 1,000th Combined Goal
After establishing himself as the NHL’s all-time regular-season goal-scoring champion during the 2024-25 season, Ovechkin commands headlines every time he lights the red lamp behind the opposing goaltender. The 40-year-old winger hasn’t looked himself, scoring 25 goals and amassing 52 points in 70 games during the 2025-26 campaign. It’s wild that a 25-goal season is considered a down year; however, Ovechkin has posted 30-plus goal totals in every season except the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season (when he finished with 24 goals in 45 games).
Washington’s leader has 922 regular-season goals and 78 postseason celebrations to reach the 1,000-goal milestone. If Ovechkin returns to Washington for the 2026-27 season, he will need 16 goals to tie Wayne Gretzky at 1,016 combined goals for the all-time record in an NHL career with playoff statistics included. That is certainly an offseason storyline worth keeping an eye on this summer.
Logan Thompson Stellar in the Loss
Logan Thompson made 21 saves in the loss to Colorado. The netminder never really had a chance in the overtime session as the Avalanche won the opening draw and circled around in the offensive zone for over a minute before Nelson’s tap-in ended the game at 1:22 of the extra frame.
While his overall record has slipped this season (from 31-6-6 in 2024-25 to 24-19-6), Thomson’s underlying numbers have remained consistent with a better goals-against average (2.38) and a superior save percentage figure (.914%) than last season’s debut in Washington.
The 29-year-old netminder is in the first season of a six-year contract extension signed with the Capitals in January 2025. Thompson carries a $5.85 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season, a figure that Washington’s general manager Chris Patrick will have no problem paying if he continues to receive stellar goaltending from the Canadian puck-stopper.
Hutson Secures First NHL Assist vs. Colorado
Cole Hutson picked up his first career NHL assist on Ovechkin’s game-tying goal in the third period. The American defender looks unfazed by the NHL’s level of competition in his first two games, showcasing the high-level IQ and puck-moving abilities that made him a prized prospect in the Capitals organization.
Related: Get to Know the Newest Washington Capital: Cole Hutson
It is an encouraging sign for Washington as defenders often take longer to develop into NHL-ready talent. However, after the first two contests, it looks like Washington’s teenager is far too good for action with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League. Patrick knew he had to clear a spot for the incoming arrival of Hutson at the end of the 2025-26 season, and now Washington’s brain trust will be able to enter the offseason looking like they pulled off a heist in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Up Next for Washington
Washington departs on a three-game road trip to the West Coast, with upcoming battles on the frozen floor in St. Louis, Utah, and Vegas over the next week. The Capitals need to collect six points in those games to keep their playoff hopes alive heading into April. Per MoneyPuck, Washington owned a 7.1% chance to make an appearance in the 2026 NHL Playoffs prior to their overtime loss to Colorado on Sunday afternoon.
