Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin makes history almost every night he plays, and Thursday the Russian machine hit another huge milestone.
Ovechkin tallied his 500th career assist on a Nicklas Backstrom power-play goal. The Great 8 became the 143rd player in NHL history to hit the half century mark in assists.
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.@backstrom19 TIES THE GAME + 500 ASSISTS FOR @ovi8! #CapsCats #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ne2AssYMWX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 26, 2018
The goal tied the Caps with the Panthers late in the first period.
Ovechkin’s historic apple occurred after making a brilliant pass through two Panthers players from the point. Evgeny Kuznetsov then slid a perfect cross-crease pass to Backstrom for the layup goal.
Here’s another look.
Ovechkin is now the second Capitals player ever to reach the milestone joining Backstrom, who accomplished the feat on January 7, 2017.
306 of Ovechkin’s 500 career apples are primary assists. He’s one of only four active players, including Jaromir Jagr, Patrick Marleau, and Marian Hossa, to have reached 500 goals and 500 assists. He’s 43rd NHL player ever to tally 500 goals and 500 assists.
AND that's 500 career assist for the #gr8 @ovi8! #CapsCats #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/IP6YCfbCos
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 26, 2018
#Caps Alex Ovechkin becomes the 43rd player in NHL history with 500 career goals & 500 career assists
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 26, 2018
Ovi's pretty good at hockey, you guys pic.twitter.com/YXgFRRSdnk
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) January 26, 2018
Alex Ovechkin recorded his 500th career assist on Nicklas Backstrom's goal. Ovechkin is one of 15 active players with 500 assists and one of just four active players to record at least 500 career goals and 500 career assists (Jaromir Jagr, Marian Hossa, Patrick Marleau) . pic.twitter.com/uMCtqiMv0q
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 26, 2018
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