Ovechkin Scores 890th Goal in Caps’ Loss to Sabres; Hurricanes Lead
- A busy Sunday night in the National hockey League saw several teams in action,with Alexander Ovechkin's quest to surpass Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record remaining a central storyline.
- The Buffalo Sabres defeated the washington Capitals 8-5, overshadowing Ovechkin's ongoing pursuit of Gretzky's record.
- Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each scored twice for the Sabres, who matched their season-high for goals in a game.
NHL Roundup: Ovechkin’s Pursuit Continues,Sabres Rout Capitals
Table of Contents
- NHL Roundup: Ovechkin’s Pursuit Continues,Sabres Rout Capitals
- NHL Roundup: Key Games and Highlights from March 31, 2025
March 31,2025
A busy Sunday night in the National hockey League saw several teams in action,with Alexander Ovechkin‘s quest to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record remaining a central storyline. However, it was a lopsided defeat for the Washington Capitals that grabbed headlines.
Sabres Dominate Capitals in High-Scoring Affair
The Buffalo Sabres defeated the washington Capitals 8-5, overshadowing Ovechkin’s ongoing pursuit of Gretzky’s record. Ovechkin did not score,leaving him still a handful of goals shy of the milestone. With only nine games remaining in the regular season,time is running out for “Ovi” to break the record this year.
Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each scored twice for the Sabres, who matched their season-high for goals in a game. The Capitals struggled defensively,allowing the Sabres to capitalize on numerous opportunities.
Hurricanes Surge, Islanders Stumble
The Carolina Hurricanes continued their strong play, securing their eighth win in their last 10 games. They defeated the New York Islanders,even though the score was not provided. Seth Jarvis scored two goals for the hurricanes, who overcame an initial 2-0 deficit.
The Islanders, once considered a likely playoff contender, are now in a slump, having lost their fifth consecutive game.
Canadiens Snap Losing Streak
The Montreal Canadiens ended a five-game losing streak with a victory over an unspecified opponent. They now sit ahead of the New York Rangers, who have 75 points, for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with less than 10 games remaining in the season.
Nick Suzuki broke a 2-2 tie with a goal in the third period,and Brendan Gallagher sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Jets, Hockey club, Penguins, Maple Leafs, and Kings Secure Wins
In othre NHL action:
- The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1, marking their third straight victory.
- The Utah Hockey Club (team name as provided) defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2, ending a three-game losing streak.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the Ottawa Senators 1-0, with Sidney crosby scoring the game-winning goal in overtime. This was the only shutout of the night.
- Steven Lorentz scored the decisive goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
- The Los Angeles Kings dominated the San Jose Sharks 8-1,led by Warren Foegele’s two goals.
NHL Roundup: Key Games and Highlights from March 31, 2025
What were the biggest storylines in the NHL on March 31, 2025?
The primary stories on March 31, 2025, revolved around Alexander Ovechkin’s ongoing quest to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record and the performances of several teams, including the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Utah Hockey Club, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los Angeles Kings.
Sabres vs. Capitals: A High-Scoring Game
How did the Buffalo Sabres fare against the Washington Capitals?
The Buffalo Sabres dominated the Washington Capitals, winning with a final score of 8-5.
Did Alexander Ovechkin score in the Sabres vs. Capitals game?
No, Ovechkin did not score in the game, and time is running out for him to break Gretzky’s record this season with only nine regular-season games remaining.
Who were the key goalscorers for the Buffalo Sabres?
Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each scored two goals for the Sabres.
Hurricanes surge While Islanders Struggle
How did the Carolina Hurricanes perform?
The Carolina Hurricanes continued their strong play, securing their eighth win in their last 10 games. They defeated the New York Islanders.
How did the New York Islanders perform?
The New York Islanders are currently in a slump, having lost their fifth consecutive game and are struggling to maintain their playoff contention status.
Who scored for the Hurricanes?
seth Jarvis scored two goals for the Hurricanes.
canadiens End Losing Streak
How did the Montreal Canadiens perform?
The montreal Canadiens ended a five-game losing streak with a victory over an unspecified opponent.
Where do the Canadiens stand in the standings?
The Canadiens are ahead of the new York Rangers for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Who scored in the Canadiens game?
Nick Suzuki scored a goal in the third period, and brendan Gallagher sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Other NHL Game Results on March 31, 2025
Here’s a summary of other NHL games played on March 31, 2025:
- Winnipeg Jets vs. Vancouver Canucks: The Jets won 3-1, marking their third straight victory.
- Utah Hockey Club vs. Chicago Blackhawks: The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Blackhawks 5-2,ending a three-game losing streak.
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. ottawa Senators: The Penguins won 1-0, with Sidney Crosby scoring the game-winning goal in overtime, the only shutout of the night.
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks: The Maple Leafs won 3-2, with Steven Lorentz scoring the decisive goal.
- Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks: The Kings dominated the Sharks 8-1, led by Warren Foegele’s two goals.
NHL Game Recap Table
Here’s a table summarizing the scores and key highlights from the games on March 31, 2025:
| Game | Score | Key highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres vs. Washington Capitals | 8-5 (Sabres) | Tage Thompson and alex Tuch (Sabres) each scored twice. Ovechkin did not score. |
| Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York islanders | Score Not Provided (hurricanes) | Hurricanes won their 8th game in last 10 games. Seth Jarvis scored two goals (Hurricanes). Islanders lost their fifth straight. |
| Montreal Canadiens vs. Opponent Not Specified | Score Not Provided (Canadiens) | Canadiens ended a 5-game losing streak. Nick Suzuki scored a goal, and Brendan Gallagher scored an empty-net goal.. |
| Winnipeg Jets vs.Vancouver Canucks | 3-1 (Jets) | Jets’ third straight victory. |
| Utah Hockey Club vs. chicago Blackhawks | 5-2 (Utah Hockey Club) | Utah Hockey Club ended a three-game losing streak. |
| Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators | 1-0 (Penguins) | Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal in overtime. This was the only shutout of the night. |
| Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks | 3-2 (Maple Leafs) | steven Lorentz scored the decisive goal for the Maple Leafs. |
| Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks | 8-1 (Kings) | Warren Foegele scored two goals for the Kings. |