Ovechkin pulled the Capitals within 6-4 at 9:11 of the third period when he got position at the top of the crease and deflected Rasmus Sandin’s shot from the left point down between James Reimer’s pads. Ovechkin, who also had two assists, has 37 goals in 57 games for the Capitals.

Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson each scored twice and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Washington Capitals 8-5 on Sunday.

Ovechkin is five goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record, but the captain’s team is in a funk that continued Sunday with an 8-5 loss to the scuffling Sabres.

3. Since Jan. 1, only three players on the Sabres have an on-ice expected goal share above 50 percent, according to Natural Stat Trick. One is Zach Benson, who leads Sabres forwards in that category this season. Another is Rasmus Dahlin, the team’s best player.

Pregame analysis and predictions of the Buffalo Sabres vs. Washington Capitals NHL game to be played on March 30, 2025 on ESPN.