15 matches – that’s how long fans waited to see Alexander Ovechkin score again. And in an away game against Columbus, the Washington captain finally managed to break the record-breaking goalless streak.

Should we expect the Russian forward to return to his previous level?

Nothing helped Ovechkin

During Ovechkin’s goalless stretch of 14 matches in Washington, no matter what methods were tried. At first, Washington head coach Spencer Carbery changed the combinations in the lines. Then a rumor emerged that the Caps were preparing to trade Andrei Kuzmenko from Vancouver. And for the last match against the Islanders, Carbery brought up Ivan Miroshnichenko from the farm club, which could also cheer up Ovechkin.

Ivan Miroshnichenko / Photo: © KHL / Kuzmin Yuri

However, none of this helped. But the Russian forward continued to be the leader of Washington even without scoring goals. Ovechkin generously distributed assists to his partners and secured the second place in the team’s top scorers (18), second only to Dylan Strome.

Ovechkin brought victory to Washington

So in the match against Columbus, the Russian added to his assist account at the end of the first period. During the power play, the Caps special teams players put Ovechkin in a killer position, but the forward did not have the opportunity to use his patented one-timer.

Two Blue Jackets players immediately blocked the shooting line, so the visiting captain could only complete the pass. The Russian forward carefully delivered the puck to the net, and Anthony Mantha beat Elvis Merzlikins in close combat.

Washington fans, of course, are happy to see Ovechkin’s assists, which benefit the team, but they still expect goals from the forward. However, in the second period, other players lit the red lights behind the goal. First, Cole Sillinger equalized the score, and then, with a pass from Alexey Protas, Canadian forward Manta scored a double. Thus, the Belarusian striker came out on top in Washington in terms of points scored at even strength (14).

After Manta’s goal, the Caps began to show their classic hockey, which allows them to maintain the winning score. But the capital’s plans were disrupted by Yegor Chinakhov: the Russian promptly joined the attack in the 13th minute of the final period, running behind Ovechkin. Then he received the puck and threw it at Charlie Lindgren’s goal. For Chinakhov, this goal was already the sixth in the last six matches and the ninth of the season.

In the third minute of overtime there was a bright episode involving Tom Wilson and Merzlikins. The Canadian forward, who was running to zero, was harshly pushed in the back by the home team’s defenders. Wilson couldn’t stay on his skates and took down the goalkeeper and then drove into the goal. The Columbus goalkeeper did not like this very much, and Merzlikins literally attacked his opponent, punching him in the head. Wilson did not stand aside and also crushed his offender a little. And after a few seconds, the Blue Jackets players came running and pulled away the visiting power forward.

As a result of this episode, only Merzlikins received two minutes. Which he later regretted.

– I reacted. Perhaps I should have controlled my emotions, but I didn’t,” Merzlikins said after the match.

Washington remained in the majority and this time Ovechkin finally scored, breaking a streak of 14 matches without a goal. After a pass from Strome, the Russian handled the puck and fired an accurate shot into the near corner – the forward’s sixth goal of the season. Thus, the captain of “Washington” avenged his friend Wilson and reached the mark of 828 career goals, and Wayne Gretzky’s record remained to hit the net 66 more times.

John Carlson and Alexander Ovechkin celebrate the victory / Photo: © REUTERS/Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

In addition, Ovechkin came into clear second place in winning goals (135) in regular-season and playoff matches. Jaromir Jagr (151) retains leadership in this component. The Russian also celebrated a major anniversary – 900 goals scored in his career, including goals in the Stanley Cup. Only Gretzky could do this.

Now we can only hope that Carbery’s words about the snowball that will begin to grow after the end of the scoring drought will turn out to be true. Thanks to Ovechkin’s goal in overtime, the Capitals now have a three-game winning streak.