Author: IHM Team | Date: October 24, 2025
COLUMBUS, OH - The crowd at Nationwide Arena witnessed history as Alex Ovechkin moved just one goal away from the 900 mark, scoring his 899th career goal in a 5-1 Washington Capitals win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.
Despite the final score, Columbus felt they played well for most of the night. The game stayed tight for 40 minutes before one controversial call in the third period blew it open.
First 40 Minutes: Thompson’s Wall of Steel
For two periods the game felt like a playoff test. Both teams stayed compact, protected the middle, and waited for mistakes. Columbus actually carried the play in the second period and outshot Washington 10-2 in that frame.
Logan Thompson was outstanding for Washington, finishing with 34 saves and robbing Columbus multiple times in high-danger looks. Head coach Dean Evason could only shake his head on the bench: “What the heck? How’d he do that? He was unreal all night.”
With under two minutes left in the second and the game still 0-0, John Carlson finally broke through from distance. That goal gave Washington a 1-0 lead heading into intermission even though Columbus controlled most of the period.
Ovechkin’s No. 899: History and Havoc
The opening minute of the third period changed everything. Off a faceoff play, Alex Ovechkin drifted into space and hammered home his 899th career goal to make it 2-0. The Capitals bench erupted. Moments later Justin Sourdif stretched it to 3-0.
Columbus pushed back. Denton Mateychuk finally beat Thompson, finishing off a setup from Sean Monahan to cut it to 3-1 and get the building back into it.
Then the game tilted for good.
With momentum starting to swing toward the Blue Jackets, a Columbus goal by Dmitri Voronkov was wiped out on review for a kicking motion. Seconds later Mathieu Olivier delivered a hit on Declan Chisholm. After review officials gave Olivier a five-minute major for elbowing.
Columbus was furious with the call. Olivier did not speak after the game. Evason did.
“I’m talking to some very intelligent hockey people that just don’t understand that call,” Evason said. “There’s no intent.”
Washington wasted no time. On that major, Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael both scored on the power play. Suddenly it was 5-1 and out of reach.
Postgame Frustration
In the Columbus room, the message was the same. They felt like they played the right way for most of the game, they were in control for 40 minutes, and a single sequence took it away from them.
Columbus now turns immediately to a back-to-back against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The Capitals head home to face the Ottawa Senators.
Coach Mark’s Take
“You cannot give Washington that kind of window, not with Ovechkin still locked in on history,” said Coach Mark Lehtonen. “Columbus actually played a very structured game. They denied rush entries, they limited second looks, they did a lot right. But one major penalty flipped the table.
As for Ovechkin, that release is still lethal. He is not just chasing 900. He is proving he can still decide games in one shift.”
IHM Verdict
- Ovechkin is now one goal away from 900 and still driving headlines.
- Columbus showed real structure for two periods even in a 5-1 loss.
- The Olivier major and the overturned goal will be a talking point going forward.
Final: Capitals 5, Blue Jackets 1. Ovechkin scores No. 899.