Alex Ovechkin makes more history with his first NHL playoff overtime goal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin had seemingly done it all in hockey, leading the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018, earning the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for the most goals in NHL history.

The one thing he had not done — until now — was score an overtime playoff goal.

Ovechkin obliterated that fun fact about his illustrious career by scoring 2:26 into OT Monday night against the Montreal Canadiens. It was his second goal in the playoff opener and 74th in the postseason over his two decades in the league — but the first in 45 games that went to overtime.

“Forty-five games, I know -- 45 overtime games,” center Dylan Strome said. "It's great. Not really surprised that he got that one. He’s been on a tear all year. Great pass by (Anthony Beauvillier) and great finish by ‘O.’ I think it was out of the air, so it was a great finish.”

Ovechkin downplayed it as “a goal is a goal,” but the OT winner put an exclamation point on a vintage performance by the 39-year-old winger, who also led Washington with seven hits and scored on the power play late in the first period.

“He made a couple of big plays for us tonight, was physical, set the tone," coach Spencer Carbery said. “He was leading the charge and dragging guys into the fight.”

Longtime teammate Tom Wilson was unaware history was made.

“News to me," Wilson said before quickly turning to praising Ovechkin. "It’s unbelievable. He’s obviously led us all year. He’s led us for the last 20 seasons for what he’s done for this team. He just continues to step up, man. He’s a playoff player. He does everything.”

Everything except score in OT in the postseason, which Beauvillier said is “kind of crazy when you think about it.” Beauvillier is new to the team since joining at the trade deadline, and those who have been around Ovechkin even a little bit longer have grown accustomed to him stepping up in big moments.

“Guy’s the best player in the world," goaltender Logan Thompson said. "What else can you say? He comes in clutch today, all game. He had a part in all those goals. It’s awesome to see. It’s a privilege to be his teammate.”

Ovechkin's first goal on the power play came on a shot from his trademark spot in the left faceoff circle on a shot that looked nearly identical to the one he took to score No. 895 on April 6, passing Gretzky for the record.

“Pretty similar, eh?" Strome said. "That’s what we said when we got back to the bench.”

Wilson, who fed Ovechkin the pass for each of the goals, noticed a resemblance between them.

“It looked pretty familiar,” Wilson said. “When I see him get some space, you just want to put it on his tape, and he can score from anywhere.”

And can hit from anywhere, too. Ovechkin opened the game by crushing Montreal's Mike Matheson with a big hit on his first shift 20 seconds in. He kept that up the rest of the night, earning as much respect from around the Capitals locker rooms for throwing his body around as putting the puck in the net.

“He’s a beast,” Wilson said. “He’s a machine. He’s out there creating energy for our team, scoring. ... That’s what a leader does. It’s one thing to be good all season long, but the guys that show up and hit and block shots and lead the team, that’s why he’s a legend.”

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his goal in the first period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) in the first period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots for a goal in the first period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots for a goal in the first period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin stands on the ice before Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his winning goal in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series past against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his winning goal past Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his winning goal as Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) looks on in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his winning goal in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) and others react after Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his winning goal in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the winning goal against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) in the overtime of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series past against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — An Army combat veteran whose Gulf War experience triggered severe mental problems was executed Thursday evening in Florida for the 1998 shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and her three young children.

Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m. following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was the fourth person executed this year in the state under death warrants signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with a fifth execution set for May 15.

Hutchinson had no last statement but appeared to be mumbling to himself as the procedure started just before 8 p.m. His legs shook sporadically, and he seemed to have body spasms for several minutes and then was still. The process took a little more than 15 minutes.

The execution was carried out soon after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal without comment.

Hutchinson had long claimed that he was innocent and that two unknown assailants perpetrated the killings under a U.S. government conspiracy aimed at silencing his activism on claims including Gulf War illnesses involving veterans. Hutchinson served eight years in the Army, part of it as an elite Ranger.

Court records, however, showed that on the night of the killings in Crestview, Hutchinson argued with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, then packed his clothes and guns into a truck. Hutchinson went to a bar and drank some beer, telling staff there that Flaherty was angry with him before leaving abruptly.

A short time later, a male caller told a 911 operator, “I just shot my family” from the house Hutchinson and Flaherty shared with the three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan. All were killed with a 12-gauge shotgun that was found on a kitchen counter. Hutchinson was located by police in the garage with a phone still connected to the 911 center and gunshot residue on his hands.

Darran Johnson, the brother of Renee Flaherty, said after the execution that justice was done but the family’s pain will never end.

“Not a day goes by that we don’t think about the loved ones that were taken from us,” Johnson said.

At his 2001 trial, Hutchinson’s defense was based on his claim that two unknown men came to the house and killed Flaherty and the children after he struggled with them. A jury found him guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, and he received life in prison for Flaherty’s killing and three death sentences for the children.

Hutchinson filed numerous unsuccessful appeals, many focused on mental health problems linked to his Army service. In late April his lawyers sought to delay his execution by claiming he was insane and therefore could not be put to death.

Bradford County Circuit Judge James Colaw rejected that argument in an April 27 order.

“This Court finds that Mr. Hutchinson’s purported delusion is demonstrably false. Jeffrey Hutchinson does not lack the mental capacity to understand the reason for the pending execution,” the judge wrote.

In their court filings, Hutchinson’s lawyers said he suffered from Gulf War Illness — a series of health problems stemming from the 1990-1991 war in Iraq — as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia related to his claim that he was targeted by government surveillance.

Florida’s lethal injection protocol uses a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections.

So far this year, 15 people have been put to death in the U.S. including Hutchinson.

A fifth Florida execution is scheduled May 15 for Glen Rogers, who was convicted of killing a woman at a motel in 1997. Rogers also was convicted of another woman’s murder in California and is believed by investigators to have killed others around the country.

This image provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Jeffrey Hutchinson. (Florida Department of Corrections via AP)