NHL MORNING SKATE – MARCH 2, 2020 THREE HARD LAPS * It’s never just one all-time list that Alex Ovechkin climbs! The NHL’s newest member of the 700-goal club ascended multiple on Sunday to move within six of passing yet another Hockey Hall of Fame member. * The Flyers raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening 21:23 en route to a sixth straight win, continuing their surge up the Metropolitan Division standings. * Zach Werenski became the first defenseman to reach the 20-goal mark this season as the Blue Jackets proved once again that no lead is safe in the NHL. OVECHKIN MOVES WITHIN SIX OF PASSING GARTNER ON ALL-TIME GOALS LIST Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (703-571—1,274 in 1,148 GP) tallied twice in the first period to move within six regular-season goals of passing longtime Washington forward Mike Gartner (708) for sole possession of seventh place on the NHL’s all-time list. Gartner is the next Hall of Famer for Ovechkin to pass; he has already leapfrogged five this season (Luc Robitaille, Teemu Selanne, Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Mark Messier), including four from Jan. 13-31. * Ovechkin has now scored 356 career regular-season goals on the road (356-261—617 in 573 GP) and moved ahead of Jaromir Jagr (355) for sole possession of the third-most in League history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (402) and Yzerman (362). * Ovechkin has scored 50.6% of his career regular-season goals on the road (356 of 703). That’s the highest such percentage among the NHL’s eight members of the 700-goal club, three percentage points more than the next-closest player. * Road goals wasn’t the only all-time list Ovechkin climbed on Sunday. He also recorded his 144th career multi-goal game in the regular season to pass Phil Esposito (143) for sole possession of fifth place in NHL history. * Ovechkin boosted his 2019-20 goal total to 45 (45-18—63 in 64 GP) and matched Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (45-32—77 in 66 GP) for second place in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race, which is led by Bruins forward David Pastrnak (47-44—91 in 66 GP). * The Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals improved to 40-19-6 (86 points) this season and maintained a three-point edge over the second-place Flyers (38-20-7, 83 points), who also secured a win Sunday (as outlined below). OTHER METROPOLITAN DIVISION CLUBS PURSUING PLAYOFF BERTHS PICK UP WINS The Flyers (38-20-7, 83 points) and Blue Jackets (32-21-14, 78 points) also picked up wins as they both pursue a berth in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs: * Travis Konecny (1-1—2), Derek Grant (1-1—2), Jakub Voracek (0-2—2) and Travis Sanheim (0-2—2) posted two points apiece to help Philadelphia extend its win streak to a season-high six games. The Flyers held the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings on the morning of Feb. 18 when their win streak began (32-20-7, 71 points) and have leapfrogged three Metropolitan Division teams since then (Columbus, NY Islanders and Pittsburgh). * Konecny, who turns 23 on March 11, boosted his career-high point total to 60 (23-37—60 in 62 GP) – tops among Flyers players in 2019-20. He became the third Philadelphia player over the last 21 years (since 1998-99) to reach the 60-point mark in a season at age 22 or younger, joining Simon Gagne in 2001-02 (33-33—66 in 79 GP) and Mike Richards in 2007-08 (22- 39—61 in 55 GP). * Another catalyst for Flyers’ surge up the standings has been Carter Hart (23 saves), who improved to 7-1-0 in eight appearances since returning to the lineup on Feb. 10 (2.14 GAA, .923 SV%) – accounting for five of Philadelphia’s six straight wins. * Columbus, meanwhile, scored four unanswered goals to overcome a 3-1 third-period deficit and strengthen their grip on the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Like the Flyers, four Blue Jackets skaters collected multiple points: Zach Werenski (1-1—2), Kevin Stenlund (1-1—2), Riley Nash (1-1—2) and Ryan Murray (0-2—2). * Werenski, the franchise’s all-time leader in goals by a defenseman (58-110—168 in 297 GP), tallied the tying marker to become the first blueliner in Blue Jackets history to score 20 in a season (20-20—40 in 60 GP). He also became the first defenseman on any team to reach the 20-goal mark in 60 games or fewer since San Jose’s Brent Burns in 2016-17 (20-30—50 in 48 GP). * Columbus recorded the 42nd instance in 2019-20 of a team overcoming a multi-goal third- period deficit to win a game. That’s just seven shy of the most through an entire regular season in League history – with 256 games still remaining in 2019-20. MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARCH 1 * Cam Talbot turned aside all 38 shots he faced and Mark Giordano (0-3—3) produced a season-high three points as the Flames (34-26-7, 75 points) blanked the Panthers to leapfrog the Canucks (34-25-6, 74 points) for third place in the Pacific Division standings. Talbot became the third goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout versus Florida, joining Rick Tabaracci on Jan. 6, 1996 (2-0 W) and Jonas Hiller on Jan. 13, 2016 (6-0 W). * Cory Schneider made 34 saves – including 29 across the final two periods – to help the Devils blank the Ducks and extend their point streak to six games (4-0-2). Schneider improved to 2-0-1 in his last three appearances (1.33 GAA, .957 SV%, 1 SO) after going 0-6-1 through his first nine outings in 2019-20 (4.65 GAA, .852 SV%). * Anze Kopitar tallied twice to reach the 20-goal mark for the 11th time in his NHL career (20- 39—59 in 66 GP) and help the Kings snap the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights’ win streak at eight games. Kopitar became the fourth player in franchise history to record a least 11 seasons with 20-plus goals, joining fellow Los Angeles icons Marcel Dionne, Luc Robitaille and Dave Taylor (all w/ 12). QUICK CLICKS * Leon Draisaitl, Mika Zibanejad and David Pastrnak named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for February * Canucks’ Quinn Hughes named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for February * General managers to evaluate state of game at annual meetings * Facts and Figures: David Pastrnak gets No. 47 for division-leading Bruins * Chad Ruhwedel's 89-year-old grandma watches him at first NHL game PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION .