Ovechkin gets No. 885, Wilson scores in OT as Capitals beat Rangers 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Ovechkin got his 885th career goal to tie it midway through the third period, Tom Wilson scored 4:07 into overtime and the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Ovechkin pulled nine goals from tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, and Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for Washington. Charlie Lindgren had 15 saves as the Capitals got their second straight win.

Artemi Panarin and Sam Carrick scored for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin had 23 saves. New York, which began the day in a playoff position for the first time since Dec. 11, lost for just the second time in six games.

In the extra period, Wilson deflected a pass from Dylan Strome on a 2-on-1 break after Strome got around a sliding defender.

Dubois got the Capitals on the scoreboard 1:04 into the game with his 16th goal of the season and third in four games. The Rangers, coming off back-to-back shutouts against Nashville and the New York Islanders, hadn't given up a goal in 134:43.

Capitals: Washington was coming off a shootout win against Ottawa on Monday that ended a season-high three-game losing streak, and had to go past regulation again to get another win.

Rangers: New York fell short of getting its first three-game win streak since Nov. 14-19 and got swept in the season series against the Capitals.

Mika Zibanejad sent a pass across the front intended for J.T. Miller, but Miller was being pushed out of position by Washington's John Carlson, Wilson got the loose puck and started the winning 2-on-1 rush the other way in overtime.

Washington was called for its league-high 11th too many men penalty early in the second period.

Capitals host Detroit on Friday to open a two-game homestand, and Rangers visit Ottawa on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

New York Rangers' Calvin de Haan (44) and goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) stops a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) protects the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Capitals' Andrew Mangiapane (88) shoots the puck past New York Rangers' Calvin de Haan (44) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin (10) leads teammates toward their bench after Panarin scored a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson (43) celebrates with teammates Jakob Chychrun (6), Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) and Connor McMichael (24) after scoring the game-winning goal during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson (43) and Jakob Chychrun (6) celebrate after an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) reacts as the Washington Capitals celebrate a goal by Tom Wilson during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson (43) scores a goal as New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) defends during the overtime period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)