Alex Ovechkin on Becoming the Franchise Leader in Playoff Points: ‘I Don’t Care’

April 20, 2016 12:26 am

Photo: Len Redkoles

Monday night during Game Three, Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and tallied an assist on a John Carlson power play marker. The three points gave Ovechkin 74 in his postseason career, giving the Great Eight sole possession of the franchise lead. Ovechkin, who now owns almost every major Capitals record, has two more postseason points than the previous record-holder, Dale Hunter.

Hunter, a 19-year veteran and a successful junior hockey league bench boss, coached Ovechkin during the 2011-12 season. He also is the only Capitals captain to take the team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

This record must have meant a lot to Ovechkin, right?

Nope.

“I don’t care,” Ovechkin said when asked about it after the game, hinting he had bigger goals in mind.

Ovechkin initially tied the record on a second period even-strength goal coming off a shift change. Ovechkin hid behind an official before collecting a Nicklas Backstrom pass and rifling a shot past Steve Mason’s glove.

Seven minutes and 37 seconds into the third period, Ovechkin set the new record, assisting on a power play goal by Carlson. It gave the defenseman a power play goal in three straight games while Washington took a 4-1 lead, putting the game out of reach.

Finally, Ovechkin scored his second goal of the night during a garbage time power play (after a garbage hit by Pierre-Édouard Bellemare). Ovechkin’s first shot was blocked by Nick Schultz. He gathered the rebound and released a bullet past Mason.

Here’s the game summary.

ESPN’s John Buccigross also had a fun fact.