Washington —Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 56th and 57th goals of the season, tying a career-high with five points on Wednesday night, despite Alex Ovechkin closing in on Wayne Gretzky. He led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. .
Ovechkin has scored 844 and 845 career goals, moving him 50 goals away from breaking Gretzky's record, which had long seemed unattainable. He has scored 15 goals since Jan. 22, scoring just eight goals in his first 43 games, but is only 23 years old this season.
Charlie Lindgren scored 22 points for the Capitals, but their winning streak ended at three and they were unable to return to the playoffs. They sit one point behind Detroit for the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings host the Islanders on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena.
But even a vintage night for Ovechkin took a backseat to Matthews' goal of scoring 70 points this season. Matthews scored two goals, and although his third goal, which was a hat trick, was overruled by a coach's appeal for offside, he was eight points away from matching Ovechkin's career best of 65 points from the 2007-08 season. 8, which is the highest annual salary since the league. The Cap era began in 2005.
And while Ovechkin and Matthews combined for four goals in a showcase as this generation's greatest scorer and perhaps his successor, they weren't the only ones lighting the lamp. Connor McMichael also scored for Washington, while William Nylander, Jake McCabe, Bobby McMann, Tyler Bertuzzi and John Tavares had the other goals for Toronto.
The Caps lost while playing without injured winger TJ Oshie and forward Aliaksei Protas. Toronto enforcer Ryan Reeves was also ejected on Tuesday night after being poked in the right eye during a brawl in Philadelphia, and veteran defenseman TJ Brody was also injured.
(at) Dallas 5, Arizona 2: Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Logan Stankoven scored in the second period and Dallas defeated Arizona.
The Stars are 18-0-1, extending their home winning streak against the Coyotes to 19 games. Their last home loss in regulation to the then-Phoenix Coyotes was on February 7, 2012.
Jason Robertson had one goal and one assist, Craig Smith also scored, Nils Lundqvist had two assists and Jake Oettinger had 23 saves.
Dallas, Winnipeg and Colorado all lead the Central Division with 93 points. The Jets played 68 games, the Avalanche played 69 games, and the Stars played 70 games.
Clayton Keller and John Leonard scored for Arizona, and Connor Ingram stopped 28 shots. The Coyotes are 18 points out of the final Western Conference playoff spot with 13 games remaining.
Grand Rapids 4, Manitoba 1
Sebastian Cossa was named the Grand Rapids Griffins' first star Wednesday against the Manitoba Moose at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Kossa made 32 saves, including 14 in the third period to earn a split in his second straight game against the Moose. Elmer Soderblom, Zach Aston-Reese, Brogan Lafferty and Matt Ruff scored for the Griffins.
playoff tracker
atlantic ocean
▶ Bruins (97)
▶ Panthers (94)
▶ Maple leaves (87)
metropolitan
▶ Rangers (94)
▶ Hurricane (92)
▶ Flyers (78)
Wildcard
▶ Lightning (80)
▶ Red Wings (76)
(Top 2 wild card teams advance to playoffs)
▶ Capital (75)
▶ Islanders (73)
▶ Sabers (71)
▶ Devils (70)
▶ Penguin (69)
Former bailiff Simon dies at age 52
Former NHL enforcement officer Chris Simon has died. He was 52 years old.
Simon died Monday night in his hometown of Wawa, Ont., a spokesperson for the NHL Players Association, who was in contact with Simon's agent, said in a statement Tuesday.
Simon died by suicide, his family announced Wednesday.
In a statement released through his agent Paul Theofanas, Simon's family claimed his death was due to the degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE. “We ask that you please respect our privacy at this very difficult time by not releasing any further details at this time,” the family wrote. “Thank you to everyone who shared our tragic loss.”
There is no way to confirm CTE during life, but doctors can identify suspected cases based on symptoms and neurological examination.
Simon played in 857 regular season and playoff games in 15 NHL seasons from 1993 to 2008. Over the course of his career, he fought more than 100 times and racked up 1,824 penalty hours, ranking him 67th in league history.
“For such a tough, great player, he was also a very kind and caring person, always respectful and grateful for advice,” former agent Larry Kelly said in a text message to The Associated Press. he said.
Simon won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996, helped Washington reach the finals in 1998 and Calgary in 2004. He was also with the Quebec Nordiques before becoming the Avalanche, and played in Chicago, Calgary, Minnesota and New York. He played for the York Rangers and Islanders, retiring after five seasons in the KHL from 2008 to 2013.
“Chris was a great guy, a beloved teammate, and a key player in our first championship season,” said Colorado State Hockey Operations Director Joe Sakic, who captained the team during its 1996 championship. I took charge,” he said. “He scored goals and was a huge presence in the dressing room, being the first to stand up and protect his teammates. Off the ice, he was an incredible man and a caring father, son, brother and friend.”
Simon, who is of Ojibwe descent, was considered a role model for Indigenous hockey players across Canada.
“Chris Simon was definitely a scary guy on the ice,” former teammate and former Red Wing Mike Commodore posted on social media. “We both lived in a hotel, so we spent a lot of time together during the Flames '04 run. …He couldn't have been nicer to me. Rest in Peace.” Chris. I will miss you.”
Michigan area hockey this week
Wednesday
▶ Grand Rapids 4, Manitoba 1
Thursday
▶ New York Islanders, Red Wings, 7 (BSD/97.1)
Friday
▶ Michigan Technological University, Bermidji State University, 8
▶ 8 Green Bay NTDP U17 players
Saturday
▶ Nashville Red Wings, 5 (BSD/97.1)
▶ Grand Rapids, Rockford, 8 (AHL/106.9/1300)
▶ Michigan State University, 8 (Big 10)
▶ NTDP U17 Team, Madison, 8
Tuesday
▶ Red Wings 4, Columbus 3 (OT)
▶ Manitoba 5, Grand Rapids 1
