Alex Ovechkin is the best, and his first period goal against the Rangers is reason #844 why.

In addition to being a pretty goal, it is a weird goal.

Vintage @ovi8. Using the defender as a screen. #CapsNYR on @CSNMA pic.twitter.com/bc6F2KrEJV

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 22, 2016

Kuznetsov has the puck in neutral, but he’s not moving, so he passes to Ovi. Ovi carries it into the Rangers’ zone wide on the right. Staal has him covered, so Ovi cuts behind him and to the middle. JK, no he doesn’t — Ovi goes back wide, with Staal oblivious, and looses a wristshot that stuns Lundqvist.

A great sequence, for sure, but appreciate the following:

• This was a solo carry-in/goal sequence from Ovechkin. He’s doing all the lifting here.
• Ovi used the defenseman as a screen. He used to do this all the time before 2011, but it stopped working. Using Staal’s movement to his advantaged, Ovi made it work again.
• Ovi was on the right wing. Oh dear, don’t tell Adam Oates.

All in all, great goal! Caps lead 2-0.

https://twitter.com/Chris_Gordon/status/789973638900510721

#Caps Alex Ovechkin has now scored 21 goals against Henrik Lundqvist, marking his most against a goaltender in his career.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 22, 2016

Full Coverage of Rangers vs Caps