Graphic via NHL

It’s Monday, which means it’s time for the NHL’s Stars of the Week. Braden Holtby, the best goalie in the league, is normally honored with these things. Not this week. Instead, the honor goes to Alex Ovechkin, who on was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week after scoring his 498th, 499th, 500th, and 501st goals in just over 24 hours. Ovechkin has done all of this in a league where scoring continues to go down. He now leads the league with 26 goals. It’s amazing.

“To get 500 in this league with how everybody playing, the goalies, it’s pretty cool,” Ovechkin said after the game Sunday.

Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek and Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie were the runners-up.

More from Caps PR:

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin has been named the NHL’s “First Star” for the week ending Jan. 10, the NHL announced today.

Ovechkin tied for first in the NHL with five goals in four games to power the League-leading Capitals (32-7-3, 67 points) to four straight wins. After being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins Jan. 5, Ovechkin recorded the game-winning goal in a 4-1 triumph over the New York Islanders Jan. 7. Playing in his 800th NHL game, Ovechkin then scored twice – including the winning goal at 1:25 of overtime – in a 4-3 comeback victory over the New York Rangers Jan. 9. He capped the week by again scoring twice, including his 500th and 501st NHL goals, in a 7-1 win over the Ottawa Senators Jan. 10. In doing so, Ovechkin (801 GP) became the fifth-fastest player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal milestone, behind Wayne Gretzky (575 GP), Mario Lemieux (605 GP), Mike Bossy (647 GP) and Brett Hull (693 GP). The 30-year-old Moscow native and all-time NHL leader in goals by a Russian-born player paces the League with 26 goals in 41 games this season (26-13—39) and also ranks third overall with a +21 rating.