Dodgers' defensive woes doom them to their third loss in four games

Washington Nationals' James Wood, right, steals second base against Los Angeles Dodgers.
Washington's James Wood, right, steals second base in front of Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas during the Dodgers' 6-4 loss Monday. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Defensive miscues cost the Dodgers two runs on Monday. Stellar defense from the Washington Nationals prevented two, if not more.

In the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss at Nationals Park to open a three-game series, that proved to be the biggest difference. And, with the team having lost three of their last four games, it reinforced what is fast becoming a disconcerting early-season theme.

As was the story in this past weekend’s series defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies, when defensive breakdowns and baserunning blunders ended the team’s 8-0 start to the season, the Dodgers continued to struggle with the fundamentals on Monday, digging an early hole from which they never fully recovered — even on a night Shohei Ohtani came up a double short of the cycle.

Read more:Dodgers celebrated at White House for 2024 World Series title by Trump

With two on and one out in the top of the second, Mookie Betts let a hard-hit one-hopper blaze by him at shortstop, misjudging a low bounce on an error that allowed an unearned run to score.

“I missed it,” Betts said. “Whether it hopped up or stayed down, doesn’t matter.”

With two outs, Miguel Rojas booted a more routine grounder at second base, resulting in yet another error and unearned run.

“Defensively today, we gave them a lot of chances for them to score some runs,” Rojas said. “So we gotta clean that up.”

The Nationals’ defense, on the other hand, twice took away hits that doused potentially dangerous Dodgers rallies.

In the top of the third, Max Muncy was robbed of extra bases on a diving catch in right field by Alex Call — just three batters before Ohtani whacked a two-run homer that otherwise would have scored three.

In the fifth, Rojas was denied a hit when shortstop Paul DeJong made a diving stop deep in the hole — just two batters before Ohtani laced a triple that would have brought him home, but instead was wasted in a scoreless inning.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a triple during the fifth inning Monday against the Nationals.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a triple during the fifth inning Monday against the Nationals. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Then, as the Dodgers tried to rally from a 6-4 deficit in the ninth, a leadoff double from Muncy was followed by a diving stop on a Hunter Feduccia ground ball from Nationals second baseman Luis García Jr., likely saving yet another run as the Nationals sewed up a series-opening win.

“It just seems like each night there's some things fundamentally that, we're just not playing clean baseball,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Giving teams extra outs or giving up outs on the bases, or whatever it might be.”

Opposing teams’ defense, of course, is out of the Dodgers’ control.

But their own repeated mistakes have emerged as a growing source of frustration in this campaign’s opening weeks.

The Dodgers (9-3) have committed seven errors, all within the last six games. They have yielded 10 unearned runs, most in the majors. They have even struggled to slow the running game, giving up steals on all 12 attempts by their opponents so far, including three to the Nationals (4-6) on Monday.

“We need to clean some things up on all sides of the ball,” Muncy said. “We know we're better than what we've been playing.”

“We expect the best out of us every single day, and it's supposed to be good every single day,” Rojas added. “But I mean, it happens. We have to keep working on it … We gotta pay attention to details a little bit more.”

Some of this was to be expected. Betts is still reacclimating to shortstop after his three-month cameo there last year. A primary outfield alignment of Michael Conforto, Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages (who got a day off Monday amid his season-opening slump, even with left-handed MacKenzie Gore on the mound) is not exactly a full-proof defensive unit.

And generally, this year’s Dodgers’ lineup was built with offense as the primary consideration; helping them rank top-five in scoring, and second in home runs, even though they’ve been without Freddie Freeman (who remains on the injured list with an ankle injury) for all but three games.

But on Monday, their bats couldn’t bail them out.

The Dodgers (9-3) managed just two runs over six innings against Gore, who racked up seven strikeouts while yielding five hits. They scored twice in the eighth, but stranded the potential tying runs when Kiké Hernández struck out to end the inning. Then, in the ninth, they couldn’t do anything with Muncy’s leadoff double, even with Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan going for a five-out save on his third-straight day of pitching.

To make matters worse, their best moment of defensive excellence — when center fielder Tommy Edman threw out a runner at home in the seventh — came in an inning the Nationals (4-6) scored three other times off relievers Anthony Banda and Matt Sauer.

“If you lose a couple games and you don't play clean baseball, you look back at a game and you say, 'We could have done this, or that might have changed the outcome,’” Roberts said. “There's still some good things that happened tonight. ... But yeah, I just think in totality, the bar, the standard, is pretty high for our club. And I know they feel the same."

It all overshadowed Ohtani’s monstrous night at the plate, which included an infield single in the first, his two-run blast to the right-field bullpen in the third, the fifth-inning triple that hit off the top of the wall in center, plus a walk in the ninth one at-bat before Betts grounded out to end the game.

Read more:Pitching and defensive struggles prove costly as Dodgers drop series to Phillies

It also left starting pitcher Dustin May with a tough-luck loss, having given up just one earned run in a six-inning outing that — after some early command issues led to three walks that compounded the defensive miscues — saw him retire the last 11 batters he faced.

“We just gotta continue to come every single day and clean those things up,” Rojas said. “Hopefully we can start getting better overall, and not just waiting for the miracle to happen in the last couple innings. I think we’re gonna clean it up a little bit more defensively and on the bases, and we all know that.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Playoff Kings: Is This the Year Los Angeles Finally Breaks Through?

© Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Kings are returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs—again. With their latest 3-0 shutout victory over Edmonton on Saturday and a Calgary Flames loss to the Vegas Golden Knights later in the night, the Kings secured their playoff spot for the fourth consecutive year. 

Despite the Kings beating the Oilers on Saturday, the game still shouldn't mean much to the Kings or their fans because it was without arguably their two best players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who have been out with injuries. The last time the Kings played a healthy Oilers team was on Jan.13, when they were held to zero points and lost the game with McDavid and Draisaitl healthy. 

The game will mean much more in a week when they meet again for the final time this season at Edmonton when, most likely, McDavid or Draisaitl will be back for that game, which will be very crucial in who will get home ice in this potential first-round matchup. 

But as the team seeks to possibly repeat the last three year's first-round series against the Oilers, fans and analysts ask: Will this year be different?

The Kings are no strangers to postseason disappointment the past few years. If they play Edmonton, it will be the fourth year the two clubs meet in the first round. Connor McDavid and his team shipped L.A. home in all three of the last series. 

The Kings' pattern of first-round eliminations is beginning to sound like a tough patch in franchise history between 1978 and 1981, during which the team did not get beyond Round 1 for four consecutive postseasons.

But there is an increased feeling around the NHL—and among the Kings themselves—that 2025 might be different.

A More Balanced, Battle-Tested Group

One of the most significant differences this season is the Kings' depth and experience. Having ridden out a rocky midseason stretch that included a change in coaches—firing Todd McLellan and promoting Jim Hiller—the Kings have caught fire. Under Hiller, L.A. has played a more physical, disciplined game, and the results are evident. The team has won four straight, outscoring opponents 19-3 in the process, and is now positioned for home-ice advantage in the first round.

Offensively, the Kings are getting good play out of their top six forwards. Kevin Fiala has restored his goal-scoring skills, Anže Kopitar is the pulse of the franchise, their newly acquired players in Warren Foegle and Andrei Kuzmenko have started to fit in very well, and young guns like Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere have become reliable contributors. Meanwhile, the blue line—led by Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper—is physical and disciplined.

Rob Blake's Best Roster Yet?

General Manager Rob Blake has received criticism since assuming the position in 2017. The Kings' rebuild has not been seamless, but Blake has built what could be his best roster to date through diligent drafting and impactful free-agent signings.

The franchise's pipeline—once one of the strongest in the NHL—is now producing as expected. Byfield and Adrian Kempe are receiving heavy minutes and have been making at a high level this season, especially Kempe, who scored over 30 goals, joining only Fiala in that feat. 

Blake opted for tweaks at the trade deadline rather than a splash, showing confidence in the current core. That confidence may be worth it, especially if the Kings' depth on defense can contain a high-powered offense come playoff time. 

Can They Beat the Oilers?

That's the million-dollar question.

The Kings have been the punching bag of the Oilers, a lot of which is because of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's tee-for-towing. Last season, the series saw Edmonton assert itself in the final two games by exploiting the mismatches and special teams' failures of L.A. 

Every year, the Oilers get rid of the Kings quicker in the playoffs because of their adjustments and rotations that exploit them. The Kings believe they've learned from those losses, however.

The Kings may also take advantage of Edmonton's injury concerns, which remain a question mark with six games remaining. Draisaitl and McDavid, who missed some time, are expected to return from injury before the playoffs, but if both are not 100%, it will be hard to ask them to beat a healthy Kings team. Still, a 75% McDavid and Draisaitl will be hard to beat in the playoffs, so the Kings must do everything possible to get the home-ice advantage over the Oilers. 

Los Angeles can stay disciplined, win the special teams game, and control possession, and it has a shot at reversing the script.

Why Could This Year Be Different?

There are several reasons to believe the Kings can avoid another early-season playoff exit:

Coaching Clarity: Jim Hiller has brought structure and clarity to the team in its systems. The Kings play faster and with purpose under his direction.

Defensive Identity: L.A. is one of the league's top teams in goals against per game, with a renewed focus on team defense and responsible puck management.

Depth Success in April: From Byfield to Fiala, the Kings' forward depth is more balanced than in past playoff forays. They're not relying on Kopitar, Danault, and Doughty alone to carry the load. It's easily the most balanced forward group in the Rob Blake era. 

Motivation and Maturity: With three straight heartbreaks behind them, this team isn't satisfied with just making the playoffs. The window is open now—and they know that.

Looking Ahead 

With only a few regular-season games left, the Kings are in charge of their playoff fate. They'll finish the season playing Seattle twice, the Ducks, Oilers, Avalanche, and Flames—games that will decide whether they begin Round 1 at home.

Whomever they face, the bar is raised: anything less than advancing past the first round would be a letdown. But if this truly is Rob Blake's best team, they'll have an opportunity to prove it—to a familiar foe, in the largest of stages.

Tuesday’s Mets-Marlins game moved to 4:10 p.m. due to weather

The Mets have announced that Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field has been bumped up to a 4:10 p.m. first pitch due to weather. 

Gates will open at 3:10 p.m. and all tickets for the originally scheduled 7:10 p.m. start will be valid for the 4:10 p.m. game.

Right-hander Clay Holmes (0-1, 2.89 ERA) is scheduled to make his first home start as a Met against Connor Gillispie (0-1, 3.60 ERA).  

Holmes was terrific during spring training, but he has been a bit shaky over his first two starts of the season, allowing a combined six walks and 11 hits in just 9.1 innings of work.

Former Penguins Goalie And Sportnet Broadcaster Millen Suddenly Dies

Image courtesy of @NHLFlames X account

Sad news broke late Monday afternoon that former Pittsburgh Penguins goalie and Sportsnet broadcaster Greg Millen had suddenly passed away at the age of 67. 

Initially drafted by the Penguins in the sixth round (102nd overall) in the 1977 Amateur Draft, he would debut with the club during the 1978-79 season at 21 years old, appearing in 28 games. 

Millen spent 14 seasons in the NHL, earning a 57-56-18 record with Pittsburgh while skating with the Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, Quebec Nordiques, and Detroit Red Wings. 

In 604 games, Millen's record was 215-284-89 with 17 shutouts. He compiled a career 3.88 GAA and .877 SV%. Meanwhile, Millen produced a 27-29 record in the postseason and never played in the Conference Final. 

After retiring in 1992, Millen became a broadcaster with the Ottawa Senators, joining CBC and Hockey Night in Canada in 1995. Eventually, he worked exclusively for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Senators until joining Rogers in 2014 to rejoin the Hockey Night team. 

Under Rogers, Millen continued to work with the Maple Leafs before joining the Calgary Flames broadcast team, where he provided color commentary for the past few seasons. 

Bucky McMillan will ‘have to get to work immediately’ as he takes over Texas A&M basketball

The Bucky McMillan era kicked off at Texas A&M with a lofty promise from the coach who raised Samford basketball to new heights. “For me to leave that place, it would only be for some place that I know I could not just win championships, but was a great place with great people,” McMillan said at his introductory press conference in A&M’s Reed Arena on Monday. Texas A&M's men's basketball team has never advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, much less won a national championship.

Lee embracing Oracle Park, Giants fans' quirks on, off field

Lee embracing Oracle Park, Giants fans' quirks on, off field originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Oracle Park is just as quirky and unique as the city it occupies.

Giants fans not only embrace a player’s individuality, but celebrate it in a fun, cult-like manner only they know how. Long gone are the days of Pablo Sandoval panda hats and Brian Wilson beards filling the stands at Third & King – although you still will see some every now and again — but that same quirkiness has manifested itself again with one of the Giants’ most exciting and marketable players: Jung Hoo Lee.

The 26-year-old’s rookie 2024 campaign was cut short due to a serious shoulder injury he sustained in May last year, but through 10 games in 2025, Lee has picked up right where he left off and is playing like the do-it-all star he was in the KBO before he signed a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco in December 2023.

And Giants fans are champing at the bit to embrace him.

Lee made two impressive sliding catches in the first and fifth innings of San Francisco’s 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday at Oracle Park, which excited a group of Giants fans that call themselves the “Hoo Lee Gans,” a play on “hooligans.”

The new fan club, along with the “Jung Hoo Crew” in section 142, are not alone in expressing their support for Lee, whose name has been turned into a loud chant every time he walks to the plate.

Lee still is just 46 games into his Giants career, and while he felt the love immediately upon his arrival last season, he has appreciated even more support in his sophomore campaign.

“I didn’t play too much [last season], but coming in here right now, I can feel that the love from the fans is amazing right now,” Lee said through interpreter Justin Han postgame.

The Giants, and their fans, likely are just scratching the surface of finding ways to celebrate the former KBO star, and Lee’s teammates are loving every minute of it.

“It’s great. I keep seeing the thing about the fight song. Hopefully everyone learns that. I haven’t learned it yet. Hopefully they play it in the crowd,” Giants pitcher Logan Webb told reporters postgame.

“It was kind of the same thing before Jung Hoo got here, we saw Ha-Seong Kim kind of be embraced in San Diego and when they started yelling ‘Ha. Seong. Kim.,’ it got loud.”

Oracle Park, as many have learned over the years, both can giveth and taketh away, and Lee still is adjusting to his new ballpark’s frustrating quirks.

Lee was a modest 1-for-4 at the plate on Monday night, but the box score did not tell the complete story. Three of the four balls Lee hit had exit velocities of at least 102.3 mph, with the hardest-hit ball of the night, a fly-out in the bottom of the sixth inning that nearly left the yard and gave the Giants a 2-0 lead, registering an exit velocity of 103.7 mph.

Lee, and just about everyone at Oracle Park, thought the ball was headed for the right-center field seats. As did the Korean broadcast, which produced a hilarious call that even non-Korean-speaking Giants fans can relate to.

“Yeah, I felt it was going to go over, but the wind was blowing in, so we can’t do anything about the environment,” Lee said postgame.

That, as Lee is learning the hard way, is called getting “Oracle’d.”

It’s one of the ballpark’s multiple quirks that both Giants and visiting players are aware of, but still bemoan every time a hard-hit ball dies on the warning track.

“Offensively, defensively, I’m still getting used to Oracle Park,” Lee said of his adjustments to the ballpark. “I didn’t get to play a lot last season, so I’m still at that progression where I’m getting more used to it right now.”

While Lee’s adjustment period remains ongoing, that wouldn’t appear to be the case just by watching him play.

“Jung Hoo is playing great baseball, he’s running well, he’s getting good jumps, he’s playing great defense, he’s swinging the bat,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said postgame. “He’s playing really well.”

“He’s only scratching the surface of his abilities,” Webb added. “It’s fun for all of us to watch, because it’s a pleasure to see him keep getting better.”

If Lee really is just “scratching the surface,” Giants fans should have no issues finding ways to embrace and celebrate one of the game’s most unique players this season and for years to come.

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Prospect Notes: Mets ‘still believe’ in Kevin Parada, the plan for Matt Allan

President of baseball operations David Stearns discussed two of the Mets’ young talents while speaking to reporters prior to Monday’s series opener at Citi Field…


Mets ‘still believe’ in Parada

Kevin Parada has gotten off to a bit of a dreadful start during his pro career. 

The young backstop was a force for George Tech and he was viewed as one of the top hitting prospects in the 2022 Draft before landing with New York at the 11th overall pick -- but he hasn’t quite been able to carry over that production with the organization.

Parada’s been brutal at the plate the past three seasons, and he was even worse last year -- hitting just .214 while popping 30 extra base-hits and striking out 153 times for Double-A Binghamton. 

He’s also been brutal defensively, throwing out just 20 percent of attempted base stealers.

The 23-year-old worked this offseason to get into better shape and make some changes to his swing and he saw some better results in a small sample size at big-league camp, reaching base three times across eight at-bats.  

Parada will begin the year back with Binghamton -- and while he isn’t viewed as big-league depth just yet -- Stearns insists that they have faith in his potential moving forward. 

“Kevin’s had some ups and downs since he’s been drafted, but we still believe in the player — he worked really hard over the offseason and came into camp in really good shape. We still like the player and we’re looking forward to seeing how his year goes.”

The plan for Matt Allan’s return

Allan has had incredibly tough luck since joining the organization. 

The right-hander was viewed one of the Mets’ top pitching prospects after falling into their laps in the third round of the 2019 Draft -- but he’s battled numerous arm issues and hasn’t taken the mound in game action since then. 

Allan worked this offseason and is finally back and ready to roll. 

He made his first appearance in nearly six years on Sunday afternoon with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets and fared extremely well -- allowing just two hits while walking one and striking out five across 2.2 innings of work. 

The results are certainly encouraging, but more importantly, the Mets are happy to see the 23-year-old back out there on the mound. 

“Given everything Matt’s gone through, every time he takes the ball we’re happy,” Stearns said. “He deserves to be happy and he deserves to enjoy it. He threw the other night, let’s get to the next one and then after that let’s get to the next one and we’ll go from there.

“What I will say is what he is doing right now is really impressive. He is demonstrating why he was so sought after in the draft, and why he has kept pushing so hard for the last five years to get back to this point.”

Given his age, Allan could be moved through the system relatively quickly based on how his performances go, but the biggest focus will be on keeping him healthy. 

How Celebrini made Sharks franchise history vs. Flames

How Celebrini made Sharks franchise history vs. Flames originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 2024-25 NHL regular season might not be going well on paper for the league-worst Sharks.

But there’s a clear silver lining in rookie center Macklin Celebrini.

With his first-period assist — his 35th of the season — against the Calgary Flames on Monday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft set a franchise rookie record for San Jose.

Celebrini overtook former winger Pat Falloon, who tallied 34 assists in the Sharks’ inaugural 1991-92 season.

The 18-year-old finished Monday’s 3-2 loss at SAP Center with two assists, both on goals by fellow promising youngster Will Smith.

That second point for Celebrini gave him a season total of 57 in his quest for the Calder Trophy. As a result, he moved ahead of Logan Couture for No. 2 on the Sharks’ all-time leaderboard for points by a rookie; Celebrini has five more games to eclipse another Falloon franchise record at 59 points.

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Former Duck Reflects on Time in Anaheim

May 5, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) celebrates after being named the first star of game five of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

Monday marks Corey Perry's 11th time facing his old team and his fifth time coming back to Honda Center. Perry is 2-2-0 in his career against the Ducks at the arena he called home for 14 seasons.

He's seen and done a lot since being bought out by the Ducks during the summer of 2019. He's appeared in 97 Stanley Cup Playoffs games––including four consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances––and played alongside some of the best players in the world, all while continuing to play that classic Corey Perry-style of hockey.

"The Worm," as he is known by many in the hockey community, is just a couple of months shy of his 40th birthday. Perry has said in the past that he would like to play until age 40, at least. Beyond that is just a question of whether he feels his body can keep playing––or if the offers will keep coming from NHL teams.

Feb 15, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) is congratulated by center Connor McDavid (97) after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

"I said last year in the playoffs, five more years, so (this season) puts this (at) four more," Perry said. "One season at a time, one game at a time. I still love every single day being a part of the team, being around the guys, being in the dressing room, on the ice. Just that camaraderie that you bond with as a team, it's still special."

14 years and a day ago, Perry scored his 50th goal of the season, a campaign which concluded with him winning the Hart Memorial Trophy, the NHL's version of the MVP award. His 50th goal was a hat trick marker, the cherry on top for an eventual 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. While Perry remembers that season going well for himself, the Ducks did not make it past the first round of the playoffs, falling to the Nashville Predators in six games.

"The second half of the season was pretty good," Perry said. "It was kind of like everything I was shooting was going in the net. It was a good feeling, but at the end of the day, you don't get it done. The goal is to win a Stanley Cup and that didn't happen. But, personally, that's a season that I'll never forget."

Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks' longest-tenured captain in franchise history and Perry's longtime friend and linemate for many seasons, will be eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame this upcoming summer. In Perry's mind, there is no doubt that Getzlaf will be a first-ballot choice.

Jan 15, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) smiles at Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) during the third period against the Dallas Stars at Honda Center. The Anaheim Ducks won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

"He was one of the best two-way forwards in the game for a long, long time," Perry said. "Over 1,000 points, played many games for one organization. The things he's done for the game of hockey and the style he played, you don't see that too often. He was my running mate for a long time and I benefited off of him for sure."

Perry's first NHL game was nearly two decades ago now. His career is coming to a close, but Olivier Rodrigue's is just beginning. The 24-year-old will make his first NHL start against the Ducks after his first NHL appearance came in relief on Mar. 27. What does Perry remember about his first NHL "start"?

"(I was) a little nervous," Perry said. "But, once the puck drops, it's just hockey. It's what you do, it's what you're born to do. Everything just comes back to you. You're gonna have some butterflies and some excitement, that's the whole experience of it."

It's been seven seasons since Perry called Honda Center home, but to him, it's still special to come back every time. 14 seasons and nearly 1,000 games played will do that.

"Every time I walk in, get in the arena, see all the signs, the accomplishments... it was home. 14 years played here, almost over 1,000 games. It's a special place and always will be."

Canucks' Lankinen To Receive Special Budweiser Can To Celebrate Alex Ovechkin's Record-Setting Goal

Jan 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck behind Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Over the weekend, Alex Ovechkin became the NHL's all-time leader in goals. The Washington Capitals captain scored his 895th on Sunday against the New York Islanders, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record. Over his 20-year career, Ovechkin has scored on almost every goaltender he faced, except a select few, who are now being recognized. 

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In honour of Ovechkin's record-setting goal, Budweiser Canada will be sending commemorative cans to the 28 goaltenders who have denied Ovechkin goals. The zero alcohol cans will have the number of shots each goaltender faced, along with the phrase "The Greatest Goal Scored Of All Time Couldn't Score On You". Among the list of goaltenders are plenty of familiar names for Vancouver Canucks fans, including Kevin Lankinen, who has stopped all 14 shots Ovechkin has fired on him. 

All Of Alex Ovechkin’s Goals Against The Vancouver Canucks All Of Alex Ovechkin’s Goals Against The Vancouver Canucks The NHL officially has a new leader in all-time goals scored. On April 6, 2025 Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th career NHL goal, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record nearly 26 years later. The goal scorer has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times in his career and has now surpassed the 40-goal mark 14 times. Of his 895 NHL goals, 16 were scored against the Vancouver Canucks. Here’s a list of all of Ovechkin’s goals against the Canucks. 

Lankinen is one of nine goaltenders who has stopped at least ten shots from Ovechkin and not allowed a goal. Overall, he ranks tied for fourth, with the only goaltenders ahead of him being Mike Condon, Mathieu Garon, and Vítek Vaněček. Over his career, Lankinen has faced the Capitals three times, posting a 2-0-1 record and a .940% save percentage. 

As mentioned, the list features a few other goaltenders who have suited up for Vancouver. Braden Holtby has stopped all two shots he faced against his former teammate, while Collin Delia has also gone two for two. Over his career, Ovechkin has scored 16 times against the Canucks, but was held off the scoresheet in each of the two matchups this season. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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