No more chasing—Alex Ovechkin’s hitting back as Capitals surge to top

The Capitals have climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference, but it’s the way they’re doing it that has fans buzzing. In a high-drama 5–4 shootout win over the Hurricanes, the team showed more than just grit, they showed swagger. And while the spotlight often lands on Alex Ovechkin’s goal count, what’s capturing attention now is something less expected: his renewed physical presence and leadership on the ice.


With his record-breaking 895th goal already in the history books, Ovechkin appears to be skating freer and hitting harder. Against Carolina, he didn’t find the net, but his presence was felt every time he threw his weight around. The 38-year-old racked up four hits, tied for second-most in the game and played like a man unshackled from the pressure of chasing milestones.
It’s a noticeable shift. Fans online are pointing out a change in his demeanor, no longer laser-focused on breaking records, Ovechkin looks to be focused on something else entirely, setting the tone.
And he’s not doing it alone. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren stood tall with 30 saves, including a string of critical stops that kept Washington in it long enough to force overtime. Then, Pierre-Luc Dubois delivered in the shootout, closing it out with the only goal in the tiebreaker. But even before the first puck drop, the energy at Capital One Arena was electric, fans were still riding the high of Ovechkin’s historic goal from earlier in the week.

The goal-scoring legacy is secure, but now Ovechkin is quietly climbing another leaderboard. With 3,739 career hits, he ranks third all-time in NHL history, behind only Matt Martin (3,930) and Cal Clutterbuck (4,029). Whether intentional or not, his recent physical play has fans speculating, could the Great 8 be eyeing one more record?
Regardless of what comes next, Ovechkin isn’t fading into the background post-record. He’s evolving, still fierce, still fearless, and still the emotional engine driving the Capitals forward.
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And if this is how Washington plans to play down the stretch with intensity, depth, and their captain crashing bodies like it's 2010, then the East better take notice.
The Capitals aren’t just chasing wins. They’re chasing something bigger.