If you’re going to be the best, you have to beat the best and Alex Ovechkin has done just that in his Hall of Fame career.
Wednesday night on national television, the Russian machine scored twice against former Vezina Trophy-winner Henrik Lundqvist to notch his 122nd career multi-goal game. Since the start of 2005-06 season, Ovechkin has 42 more games with two-or-more goals than the next closest skater (Sidney Crosby – 80).
Ovechkin’s two nearly-identical power-play goals gave The King a dubious distinction. Lundqvist leapfrogged Marc-Andre Fleury as the goalie The Great 8 has scored the most goals against. The tallies were Ovechkin’s 23rd and 24th career goals scored on the longtime New York Ranger goalie.
Goal 1
Ovechkin’s first goal came in the second period and gave the Caps a 2-1 lead. After Brett Connolly’s backhand pass to the point was deflected, John Carlson corralled the loose puck and slid the puck to Ovechkin in the left circle. Ovechkin, caught Lundqvist sleeping, one-timing the puck into the back of the net.
Ovi was very happy after his goal, appearing to utter an expletive to express his surprise he scored.
The Russian machined called his first goal “lucky” after the game. Hank was not buying that.
Lundqvist on first Ovi PPG: "I should know with that guy he can shoot from anywhere. It didn't look like he was going to shoot it. … I learned my lesson there. I've played so many times against him, I should know to be ready at all times."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 18, 2018
Goal 2
Ovechkin’s second goal was a mirror image of the first.
Goodness gracious.
Ovechkin has scored those 24 goals against Hank in 39 career games played.
Capitals forward @ovi8 netted his 23rd and 24th career regular-season goals against Henrik Lundqvist (39 GP) – his highest total against any netminder.
Sidney Crosby is the only active player with as many goals against one goaltender (24 vs. Lundqvist). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/o1UmDwIM3U
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 18, 2018
Here’s some more stats to put Ovechkin’s latest historic night in perspective.
Alex Ovechkin's been so far & above his peers in goal scoring that the @Capitals captain's 122nd career multi-goal game Wednesday tied him for 2nd on a list dating back to when he was just 6 pic.twitter.com/p1tMsvWjyR
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 18, 2018
Alex Ovechkin's 122nd career multi goal game tonight ties him with Jaromir Jagr for the 2nd most by one player in the NHL… since the 1991-92 season! (Most: 131- Teemu Selanne)
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 18, 2018
Still just 33, Alex Ovechkin continues to show why he's arguably the most deadly PP shooter in NHL history. With his 2 goals for the @Capitals Wednesday night, he tied for 6th on this list pic.twitter.com/HDKbgs0xaD
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 18, 2018
It's also tied for the 6th most career PP goals by a winger, as only Dave Andreychuk (274), Brett Hull (265), Teemu Selanne (255), Luc Robitaille (247) & Brendan Shanahan (237) have more https://t.co/yjDsA53cOL
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 18, 2018
For Ovechkin, this is just another day in the office.
