Alex Ovechkin registered an assist in what may have been his final appearance in the NHL, as the Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old forward, who has reached 929 career goals, said he is unsure about what comes next and will make a decision about returning for another season in the offseason. He noted the presence and support of traveling fans from Washington and other locations, saying their cheering and calls for “one more year” meant a great deal to him.
He also reflected on the possibility that this matchup could be his final NHL game, noting that it would bring his career full circle, as he scored twice in his league debut against Columbus in 2005.
Late power-play strike decides close contest in Columbus
The Capitals secured the win with a late third-period power-play goal from Jakob Chychrun at 15:53, with Ovechkin credited with the secondary assist on the decisive play.
Anthony Beauvillier also found the net for Washington, while Clay Stevenson stopped 27 shots as the team ended the season with four consecutive victories and a record of 43-30-9.
For Columbus, Boone Jenner scored early in the second period, and Jet Greaves made 19 saves. Jenner’s goal came just seconds into the period from close range after a setup by Mason Marchment.
Trevor van Riemsdyk contributed an assist on Beauvillier’s breakaway equalizer, which tied the game at 1-1 in the first half of the second period.
Frustration and reflection as Blue Jackets miss postseason
Columbus head coach Rick Bowness expressed strong criticism after the loss, pointing to what he described as a lack of physicality and too many mistakes, citing three hits and 23 turnovers from the stat sheet. He questioned the team’s effort level and commitment, stating that the group did not show enough urgency in a game that followed their elimination from playoff contention.
Bowness added that, while he was unsure about his own future with the club after taking over midseason, he expected a stronger response from his players regardless of standings or stakes. He emphasized that competing intensity should not drop even in a game without playoff implications.
Columbus finished the campaign with a difficult run, losing eight of their final 11 games overall and going winless in their last six home contests.
The Blue Jackets had entered the season aiming for postseason success, but ultimately fell short after a stretch in which they were unable to recover late momentum.