NHL NEWS JAN 12 – OVECHKIN HITS 1000 POINT MARK IN CAPITALS’ SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIN

Alex Ovechkin scored twice – including the opening goal just 35 seconds into the game – to become the first player in Capitals history to reach 1,000 career points (546-455—1,001) and lead the club to its seventh consecutive victory.

Ovechkin became the 84th NHL player (sixth active) to reach the milestone, doing so in his 880th career game.

Ovechkin, a six-time winner of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, scored his 545th and 546th career goals to move past the legendary Canadiens scorer – who tallied 544 goals in 978 GP – into sole possession of 29th place on the League’s all-time list.

Ovechkin (21-14—35) also became the 16th player in League history to reach 20 goals in each of his first 12 seasons. His 21 goals share third in the NHL this season, behind Sidney Crosby (26) and Jeff Carter (22).

The Capitals (27-9-5, 59 points) and Flames (23-19-2, 48 points) each earned regulation wins against divisional rivals, while the Canadiens (26-10-6, 58 points) padded their lead atop the Atlantic Division:

Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie collected 1-3—4 and 0-3—3, respectively, in the Capitals’ victory to help Washington, the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winner, move within one point of Columbus (28-8-4, 60 points) for first place in the NHL. Backstrom (3-8—11) and Oshie (2-5—7) have combined for 5-13—18 in three games against the Penguins this season.

NHL NEWS AND MUSINGS

• Defenseman Jason Demers established a career high with his eighth goal of the season, scoring the winner in the Panthers’ fourth straight road victory
• Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (1-1—2) posted his fourth consecutive multi-point game (2-7—9) to move into a share of fourth in League scoring (17-27—44 in 42 GP)
• Penguins teammates Phil Kessel (2-6—8) and Justin Schultz (1-5—6) and Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (5-3—8) each extended their point streak to six games
• Capitals head coach Barry Trotz earned his 685th career win to move past Pat Quinn into sole possession of seventh place in NHL history. Trotz served his 1,401st career game behind an NHL bench to also surpass Quinn into eight place on the all-time list
• The NHL Centennial Fan Arena, a touring tribute to a century of hockey thrills, will begin its three-day stay in Dallas today at Victory Plaza outside American Airlines Center.

WEDNESDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Florida 2, NY ISLANDERS 1
Montreal 7, WINNIPEG 4
WASHINGTON 5, Pittsburgh 2
CALGARY 3, San Jose 2

THURSDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Vancouver @ Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Boston @ Nashville, 8 p.m.
Montreal @ Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Detroit @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey @ Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Anaheim @ Colorado, 9 p.m.
St. Louis @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.