BREAKING NEWS: Alex Ovechkin officially moves to second on the NHL scoring list with 802 goals…passing Gordie Howe and just 92 goals behind Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has surpassed Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers legend Gordie Howe to move to second on the NHL’s all-time goal scoring list.
The Russian-born forward scored two goals in his team’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. The first came via a wrist shot that went through the legs of Jets goaltender David Rittich with assists going to Dylan Strome and Conor Sheary with 1:38 remaining in the first period.
The second came on an empty net with the assist credited to Evgeny Kuznetsov with 1:00 remaining in the third period.
With this goal, Ovechkin now sits only behind hockey’s greatest player – Wayne Gretzky – for the most goals ever scored in the league.
Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin has now scored 801 goals in his career
This goal ties him with Gordie Howe (above) for 2nd all-time & 92 goals behind Wayne Gretzky.
He was mobbed by teammates at the glass to celebrate while his goal song, Big Joe Turner’s ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll,’ blared from arena speakers. Fans chanted, ‘Ovi! Ovi! Ovi’ and gave him a standing ovation during the next stoppage when Ovechkin was honored for his latest accomplishment.
Ovechkin ended a four-game goal drought and matched Howe in more than a week, becoming the third player to reach 800.
‘Everybody right now enjoy this ride,’ Ovechkin said last week. ‘It’s great for all of us to be able to get to 800, the third player ever to do that, and be on the same team. I think it’s pretty cool. It’s pretty special for them.’
Ovechkin (center) has now racked up 22 goals and 19 assists for 41 points in 35 games.
His next goal will give him sole possession of second place and put Ovechkin 92 away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 that long seemed unapproachable.
‘What he’s done year after year, the consistency, and him being able to produce the way he’s consistently done, it’s pretty remarkable,’ said Toronto star Auston Matthews, the NHL’s reigning MVP who scored 60 goals last season. . ‘Every year he always plays every game like it’s his last. He’s just a horse out there. He loves to score goals, and I think that’s been pretty evident throughout his career. You can just tell.’
And Ovechkin does not intend on stopping any time soon. He’s signed for three more years after this season in hopes of surpassing 894 goals.
‘He scores in bunches more than anyone ever, and that’s probably why he is where he is right now,’ Washington defenseman John Carlson said. ‘This history, the people (he’s passing), you’re like, holy smokes, you get to play with a guy for 13 years that is beating these guys in the history books. It’s pretty cool stuff.’
Ovechkin scored on David Rittich, the 166th goaltender he’s put the puck past in his career.
It was Ovechkin’s 52nd goal – the most of any opponent – in 71 games against the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise. He also scored his 600th goal at home against Winnipeg.
Jets associate coach Scott Arniel, who spent the previous four seasons as a Capitals assistant, said he learned quickly that Ovechkin ‘doesn’t stop.’
‘He’s such a driven guy when he goes out to play,’ Arniel said. ‘(He is not) just a slap shot, one-timer guy standing on the side on the power play. I saw all the goals he scored standing in front of the net. Even the hat trick he got in Chicago, all three were right there. He’s done a lot of that as well.’
Ovechkin scored in his first game facing Rittich, who became the 166th NHL goaltender he has beaten for a goal during his 18-year career.
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