Ovechkin Scores 30th Goal, Capitals Win

Matt Niskanen scored a goal that wowed the Washington Capitals' bench, and Alex Ovechkin scored an atypical goal that put him in elite company in hockey history.

Behind a highlight-reel goal from Niskanen and Ovechkin's 30th of the season, the Capitals came back to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in their traditional Super Bowl Sunday matchup. Ovechkin joined Wayne Gretzky and Mike Gartner as the only players in NHL history to score 30 or more goals in their first 11 seasons.

"It's not surprising, and he's going to probably do it another time or two before he's done," coach Barry Trotz said. "Consistency -- that's a part of greatness."

Ovechkin deflected Karl Alzner's point shot with his stick in front of Flyers goaltender Steve Mason for his 30th goal in his 49th game of the season. That tied the score in the second period after a choppy start for the Capitals, so it meant more to Ovechkin in the moment than in the scope of the record books.

"You just have to do what you have to do," Ovechkin said. "It was not [a] pretty goal, but it was a really important goal for us. I'll take it."

The NHL-leading Capitals will take whatever offense they can get right now, as they're mired in a season-worst 0-for-17 power-play drought. Another 0-for-2 performance Sunday hurt way less because the Capitals killed off all five Philadelphia power plays.

Sunday, February 7 Scoreboard

Washington 3, Philadelphia 2

Montreal 2, Carolina 1 (SO)

NY Islanders 8, Edmonton 1

Monday, February 8 Schedule (All Times Central)

New Jersey at NY Rangers, 7 p.m.

Anaheim at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Florida at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.