Alex Ovechkin is the first player to hit 50 goals in five seasons in a couple decades. His powerplay goal (naturally) in the first period of Tuesday’s game against St Louis introduced Ovechkin to the company of eleven storied scorers– including names like Gretzky, Lemieux, and Bossy.

Number fifty was nifty– a quintessential Ovi shot from the Ovi spot, clanging off the crossbar on its way home. Ryan Miller didn’t stand a chance.

Ovechkin now leads the league in goals by — and this is fitting — eight. Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks has 42.

This is Ovechkin’s fifth 50-goal season, and first since 2009-10.

Ovechkin was mellow afterwards. “[The] puck was rolling and I just got lucky,” Ovechkin told Al Koken during intermission. “We’ll take it right now.”

Ovechkin seemed keenly aware of the situation his team is in, both tonight and on the season, but he took a moment to appreciate the achievement. “It’s hard to score fifty goals in this league,” Ovechkin said. “It’s always nice.”

Video: Joe Beninati’s Call of the Goal

Audio: John Walton’s Call of the Goal