Alex Ovechkin scores on Marc-Andre Fleury for a 28th time to move 24 away from the NHL goals record

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin moved another step closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record by tormenting Marc-Andre Fleury one more time.

The Washington Capitals captain scored his 871st goal by beating Fleury on a power play in the second period against Minnesota on Thursday night. Fleury got the last laugh by denying Ovechkin in the shootout to give the Wild the victory.

"He got a goal in the game already, so that was enough," Fleury said with a chuckle.

Ovechkin has scored on Fleury 28 times in 47 games against him over the past two decades, with a vast majority of them coming when “Flower” played for the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s by far the most of the record-tying 178 different goaltenders Ovechkin has scored on.

“I don’t like getting scored on by him, but I love the battle over the years," Fleury said, acknowledging he knew he had given up more goals to Ovechkin than anyone else. "Yeah, I’ve heard that a few times.”

Fleury has also played Ovechkin the most of any goalie and seen his most shots: 241 of his record 6,708.

“It's 20 years we play against each other,” Ovechkin said. "It’s always fun. It’s always a challenge. He’s one of the best goalies out there, and it’s a huge challenge for me to play against him.”

With 40.8 seconds left in the second period, Ovechkin skated over to Fleury after the whistle and joked, “I need one more.”

“You already get one,” Fleury responded as the two longtime rivals shared a laugh.

Beating Fleury put Ovechkin 24 back of passing Gretzky’s mark of 894 goals that was once considered unapproachable. The 39-year-old winger has 18 goals this season and three in four since returning from a broken left fibula and is on pace to get to 895 and possibly beyond this spring.

“I feel fortunate I was able to play in this time," Fleury said. "He probably owes me a few things for scoring so many goals on me. I helped it out pretty good. I’m glad I got to face him. He’s one of the best and always brings the best out of you.”

With Fleury playing his final season in the league, this could be Ovechkin's final goal against him, though the Capitals also visit the Wild on March 27.

“We still got one more game, so I don’t want to get too cocky too early,” Fleury said.

The only active netminder close on Ovechkin's list is fellow Russian Sergei Bobrovsky at 16. Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist is second behind Fleury at 24, and Carey Price third at 22.

Despite giving up another to Ovechkin, Fleury beat the Capitals for the 28th time in his career. Washington's Tom Wilson, who also scored and had another would-be goal disallowed, said there's a lot of respect for Fleury among opponents.

“When he’s gone, the game will miss him,” Wilson said. "He’s fun to have in the league. He’s a heck of a goalie. We’ve had a lot of battles against him. I think ‘O’ and him, you see them smiling back and forth. Game respects game. It’s fun to see two all-time legends going at it and having a front-row seat to that.”

The Wild were happy to help Fleury go out on a high note in his final game in the U.S. capital.

“I know with Flower, he’s played a lot of games in this building and against this team," said forward Ryan Hartman, who scored for the first time since Nov. 19. “It always seems like it’s a good battle whenever he’s here, and I think sometimes games like this mean a lot to him.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, center, celebrates with left wing Marcus Foligno (17) and center Devin Shore (19) after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. The Wild won 4-3 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) stops the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. The Wild won 4-3 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) stops a shot by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin during the shootout of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. The Wild won 4-3 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck as Minnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm (47) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — It’s still too early to determine if Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter will be available when the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (13-2) play seventh-seeded Notre Dame (13-1) in their College Football Playoff semifinal, but his teammates and coaches are optimistic.

The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year suffered an unspecified upper-body injury in Penn State’s 31-14 win over third-seeded Boise State in last week’s Fiesta Bowl, leaving his status for Thursday’s Orange Bowl against the Fighting Irish uncertain.

“At this point, I don’t think there’s anything that is stopping him from playing,” Penn State coach James Franklin said Saturday. “But it’s just going to come down to how is he able to play? And we’ll see, but his mentality is great. He’s got a big smile on his face. He’s excited about this week. But it’s too early to say at this stage.”

The junior appeared to suffer a shoulder or arm injury in the first quarter against the Broncos. After exiting the game and spending some time in the sideline injury tent, Carter re-entered for a series before leaving the game for good in the second quarter.

Carter has never missed a game in his three-year career. He is second among all FBS players with 21 1/2 tackles for loss this season. Carter leads Penn State with 11 sacks and is fourth among Nittany Lions players with 63 total tackles.

“His attitude is great,” Franklin said. “His mentality has been really good. We’ll see. But I think he’s taking the right approach and mentality, and really it’s going to come down to how he feels and how much practice he’s able to get during the week.”

Franklin said Penn State began preparing for the Irish on Friday and will practice on Sunday after getting Saturday off.

While Carter and fellow starting end Dani Dennis-Sutton have been stalwarts up front all season, Penn State has found success with others, too.

Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert have factored into the defensive end rotation all season while freshman Max Granville has ramped up his workload over the last four games.

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Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) celebrates after the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff game against Boise State, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)