Ovechkin, Capitals keep postseason hopes alive with 3-0 victory over Penguins

Q: What do the Capitals need to do to make the playoffs?

The Capitals must defeat Columbus in their final game and hope Philadelphia loses both of its remaining games.

Q: How many goals has Alex Ovechkin scored this season?

Alex Ovechkin has scored 32 goals this season, leading the Washington Capitals.

Q: When will Alex Ovechkin decide on his future in the NHL?

Alex Ovechkin plans to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd season during the offseason.

Ovechkin, Capitals keep postseason hopes alive with 3-0 victory over Penguins

TL;DR

The Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Alex Ovechkin, who is considering retirement, contributed with an assist and leads the team in goals this season.

WASHINGTON — Logan Thompson stopped 24 shots, and the Washington Capitals kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 Sunday in perhaps the final home of Alex Ovechkin’s brilliant career.

To reach the postseason, the Capitals must defeat Columbus in the season finale Tuesday night, and hope Philadelphia fails to win either of its last two games.

The 40-year-old Ovechkin intends to wait until the offseason to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd season. The all-time NHL leader in goals with 929, Ovechkin has played in every game this season and leads the Capitals in goals (32) and points (63).

The spirited, sellout crowd saluted Ovechkin during the game with chants of “One more year!” and “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!”

Ovechkin helped seal the victory by picking up an assist on an empty-net goal by Connor McMichael, who scored earlier in the third period.

Pittsburgh last week clinched a postseason berth and home-ice advantage in the opening round. But the rivalry between these teams runs deep, and the Penguins tried hard to throw a wet blanket on the Capitals’ playoff hopes and Ovechkin’s big day.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was back on the ice after he and several teammates received a day off Saturday when Washington won in Pittsburgh 6-3. This was the 100th — and perhaps final — matchup between Ovechkin and Crosby, two of the game’s biggest names.

To mark the occasion, the two stars lined up at center ice for the opening faceoff. It was only the 175th career faceoff for Ovechkin, counting playoffs, compared to No. 32,131 for Crosby.

The game was scoreless until Trevor van Riemsdyk jammed the puck under Pittsburgh goalie Stuart Skinner’s right leg at 12:22 of the second period.

That was enough offense for Thompson, who notched his fourth shutout of the season.