Alex Ovechkin scored with 1:53 left in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
Merilainen, who played for Allen of the ECHL and Belleville of the American Hockey League in 2023-24 and began this season as the Senators' fourth-string goaltender, is the second goalie in Ottawa history, joining Andrew Hammond, to record multiple shutout wins in his first 10 NHL games.
OTTAWA -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 874th NHL goal at 3:07 of overtime, giving the Washington Capitals a 1-0 win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.
The Ottawa Senators fell short against the NHL-leading Washington Capitals in Thursday's 1-0 overtime loss, but proved they can hold their own against the best. Senators rookie netminder Leevi Merilainen conceded the game's lone goal to Alex Ovechkin in a 26-save performance.
The 39-year-old winger took a pass from Rasmus Sandin on a 2-on-1 breakaway and fired it past rookie Leevi Merilainen, the record 179th goaltender he's scored on.
December, having managed three goals and six points in his last nine games. The 28-year-old will need a more offensive role in the back half of the season if he is to return to the 40+ point seasons he enjoyed as a member of the Calgary Flames.
The Ottawa Senators return home with a tall order as they take on the best team in the East and League — the Washington Capitals. Washington leads the league with a 0.716 save percentage at 63 points in 44 games.
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The Capitals will look to keep trending in the right direction against Ottawa, as Jakob Chychrun makes his return for the first time since being traded.
Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL record for the most goaltenders scored on, beating Leevi Merilainen in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 1-0 victory at the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ethen Frank scored his first career goal while Tom Wilson and Andrew Mangiapane ... for the Senators. Claude Giroux added three assists as Ottawa won its sixth ...
SENATORS 5, PENGUINS 0 PITTSBURGH — Shane ... Ethen Frank got his first NHL goal and Washington beat Nashville. Tom Wilson and Andrew Mangiapane also scored for the Capitals.