Alex Ovechkin's 890th career goal was overshadowed by the Washington Capitals' disappointing 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The 39-year-old forward noted that while he is just five goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's record of 894, the team's performance matters more than individual accolades at this juncture. Ovechkin's goal came in the third period after a momentum shift sparked by Aliaksei Protas’ shorthanded goal, although the Capitals ultimately fell short.

Ovechkin's ice time has been limited due to the team's struggles, finishing the game with less than 17 minutes on the ice. Despite this, he’s on pace for a remarkable 14th season of scoring 40 or more goals, even after missing significant time due to injury. Coach Spencer Carbery expressed frustration with the team's top players, indicating that improvement is necessary moving forward.