Coming into Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars, Alex Ovechkin needed to score seven goals in his next 10 games to hit 50 goals for the eighth time in his career. Make that six goals in his next nine.
In the second period, Ovechkin scored from the office — the only office in DC not closed by the snow, the Caps Twitter account joked — to give the Caps a 3-2 lead in the second period.
The goal, Ovechkin’s 44th, gave the Russian machine the league lead in goals again from a surging Patrik Laine. Ovechkin also passed Jari Kurri for sole possession of 19th place on the NHL’s all time goals list.
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The one office in DC not closed by the ❄️#CapsStars #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/0G5VAgGSnN
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2018
Ovechkin scored on a set play off an offensive zone faceoff. After Nicklas Backstrom got tossed from the dot, TJ Oshie won the draw straight back to John Carlson, who fed the puck to a wide open Ovechkin.
Check out the torque of Ovi’s stick as he beats Kari Lehtonen short side.
Here’s a look at Ovi’s celly.
With the goal, Ovechkin became the third greatest international goal scorer.
Alex Ovechkin's 602nd career goal tonight for the @Capitals was a significant one, pulling him ahead of Jari Kurri for 3rd on this all-time international list pic.twitter.com/qxpeWo1q73
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 21, 2018
He hit the 80-point mark on the season for the eighth time in his career and hit several milestones there.
Alex Ovechkin tonight reached 80 points for the 8th time in his career- ties Peter Stastny for the 5th most such seasons by a European-born player in NHL history
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 21, 2018
Ovechkin also passes Michel Goulet to tie Bobby Hull for the 2nd most 80+ point seasons in NHL history by a player whose primary position was left wing (Most: 9- Luc Robitaille) https://t.co/GIziLTBDHa
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 21, 2018
Meanwhile, Laine was injured in the Jets’ 2-1 win over the Kings Tuesday night. The Finn stands at 43 goals, while his timetable to return to action is unclear.
Way to go, Ovi.
Who else but @ovi8 on the PP from his spot! Listen to @WesJohnsonVoice announce it. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7522qxQqqL
— Byron J. Hudtloff (@ByronHudtloff) March 21, 2018
