On paper, the San Jose Sharks are not a good hockey team, but they have given the Washington Capitals fits. Last season, the Capitals needed a third-period rally to beat the Sharks at home and then lost at SAP Center.

Ovechkin missed the first game between the Capitals and Sharks this season on Dec. 3 at Capital One Arena while recovering from a fractured left fibula, so it will be the first time Celebrini, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, will play against Ovechkin, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 887th career goal Saturday to move within eight of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record and the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1. Ovechkin deflected a shot from Martin Fehervary past Georgi Romanov with 9:06 remaining in the third period.