McCann’s late tie-break goal lifts Kraken over Capitals 5-3 as Ovechkin scores first of the season

Seattle’s late push turned into a 5-3 victory over Washington on Sunday night, with the Kraken answering every Capitals adjustment before Jared McCann finally broke the tie. McCann scored with 5:27 remaining, turning a close game into a manageable finish and helping Seattle secure its fourth win in six games.

The Capitals got an early jolt from their longtime franchise star. Alex Ovechkin, NHL career leader, found the net for his first goal of the season, giving Washington a lift even as Seattle’s attack continued to generate scoring chances throughout the night.

Seattle’s scoring spread also mattered. Jordan Eberle, Frederick Gaudreau, Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Winterton all contributed goals for the Kraken, underscoring a scoring balance that can be difficult for opponents to fully game-plan against. In a matchup that featured a clear storyline about Ovechkin’s start to the year, Seattle ensured the night did not belong to Washington alone.

Washington’s position in the game hinged on momentum shifts, and Kraken goals at key moments kept the Capitals from building sustained control. Even after Ovechkin’s breakthrough, Seattle maintained offensive pressure and, once McCann scored late, the Capitals had to play catch-up the rest of the way.

For the Kraken, the win was more than just a two points. Seattle improved to 4-2-0, an early-season mark that helps set expectations in a crowded NHL schedule, where teams often separate themselves through consistency in September and October. The early record is also a reminder that Seattle’s results have come from more than a single line or player.

The Capitals, meanwhile, were tasked with absorbing the disconnect between an individual milestone and the final outcome. Ovechkin reaching the scoresheet is meaningful for any team, but Sunday’s result showed Washington still needs to tighten the moments that decide close games, particularly late when opponents can turn a tied score into a deficit quickly.

What to watch next is whether the Kraken can carry this kind of balanced scoring into their next stretch, and whether Washington can respond by getting faster starts and more dependable defense in the middle of games, especially after Seattle’s late surge began to surface.