While Alex Ovechkin is undisputedly one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time, he’s also become a very good passer. Sunday against the Flyers, Ovechkin authored one of the greatest assists of his career.
I’m serious.
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As Backstrom and Ovechkin skated down the ice on a 2-on-1, goaltender Steve Mason and the Flyers defense assumed the Russian machine would shoot from his office.
Instead, Ovechkin faked a one-timer and bunted a slap pass to Matt Niskanen driving the center lane. Boom! Goal.
Ovechkin made the Flyers look silly. Backstrom’s saucer pass over two defenders’ outstretched sticks was nearly just as amazing.
Ovechkin’s hockey IQ is through the roof. In a split second, he read the play and saw the Flyers scrambling to recover. His fake shot further pulled the Flyers out of position and then he perfectly led Niskanen for the goal.
Sunday, Backstrom received a golden stick for becoming the first player in franchise history and the 139th player in NHL history to reach the 500-assist platueau. Ovechkin now has 457 apples and counting.
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