Anaheim Ducks vs Washington Capitals Picks and Predictions March 11th 2025

Ovechkin Eight Goals Shy of Gretzky as Capitals Visit Ducks

Alex Ovechkin’s historic chase for Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record heads to the West Coast this week as the Washington Capitals kick off a three-game road trip against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.

With 886 career goals, Ovechkin is now just eight away from tying Gretzky’s legendary 894-goal mark and nine away from making history.

His latest goal came in Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, where he buried an empty-netter to seal Washington’s fourth straight victory. The Caps are surging, sitting atop the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference with 92 points through 64 games.

Ovechkin leads Washington with 33 goals this season, eight of which have come on empty nets—tied for the NHL lead with Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. But while Ovechkin’s chase for history is the major headline, he’s far from the only reason the Capitals are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Washington’s Depth Fuels Their Playoff Push

Ovechkin is one of six Capitals players with at least 50 points this season, making them one of the most balanced offensive teams in the league.

Tom Wilson, Ovechkin’s linemate, has emerged as a major offensive threat, tallying a career-high 29 goals and 52 points—just one shy of his career-best total.

Wilson’s red-hot play earned him NHL Third Star of the Week honors after putting up seven points (three goals, four assists) during Washington’s four-game win streak.

Head coach Spencer Carbery had high praise for Wilson, calling him a “unicorn” because of his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

“He’s such a fiery competitor and wants it so bad that you can feel it as a coach,” Carbery said. “That’s my job—to get him in situations where he can be effective and change the momentum in the hockey game.”

Carbery highlighted a big hit by Wilson on Seattle’s Jordan Eberle late in the first period of Sunday’s game as a key moment. The Kraken led 1-0 at the time, but the Capitals responded by scoring twice in the first three minutes of the second period, flipping the game’s momentum.

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Ducks’ Youth Movement Offers Hope for the Future

While the Ducks’ playoff hopes are slim, sitting 12th in the Western Conference with 63 points, they snapped a two-game skid with an impressive 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Anaheim is still seven points out of the final wild-card spot, making their playoff chances a long shot, but the emergence of their young stars has given fans something to be excited about.

A New Core is Emerging in Anaheim

The Ducks’ third line of:

• Cutter Gauthier (21 years old)
• Mason McTavish (22 years old)
• Sam Colangelo (23 years old)

has been dominating offensively, accounting for eight of Anaheim’s last 11 goals while adding nine assists in the last four games.

Colangelo, in particular, has been a revelation since being recalled from AHL San Diego on Feb. 27. After struggling with just one goal in his first 12 NHL games, he has exploded for five goals and an assist in the last four games—including a two-goal performance against the Islanders on Sunday.

“Playing with two top-5 picks—there’s a reason they were both drafted so high,” Colangelo said of Gauthier and McTavish after Sunday’s win. “They’re unbelievable players, playing in the league at a very young age, and I think we read off each other very well.”

Final Thoughts: Can Ovechkin Inch Closer to Gretzky’s Record?

With Ovechkin closing in on history and the Capitals looking to extend their four-game win streak, all eyes will be on Washington in this matchup.

Meanwhile, the Ducks are playing for pride and player development, with Gauthier, McTavish, and Colangelo continuing to make strides toward becoming Anaheim’s next core superstars.

Will Ovechkin find the back of the net again, moving even closer to Gretzky’s all-time record? Or will Anaheim’s young guns spoil the Capitals’ momentum with another impressive performance?

Puck drops Tuesday night in Anaheim.