Entering Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had not scored in six games.
Welp. That streak is over. And Ovi netted an incredible bit of history in the process.
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The goal was made possible by a sick assist by Michal Kempny. The Czech defender found Ovi with a beautiful cross-ice seam pass.
Ovechkin gathered in the puck and fired, beating Jake Allen to the far side of the net.
Ovechkin, like Michael Jordan in his prime, had his tongue out as he shot.
With the tally, Ovechkin became the first player in the NHL this season to 30 goals. It’s the fifth time he’s done it in his career and the fifth time he’s accomplished the feat in his last seven seasons.
Ovechkin is the third player in NHL history to be the first to 30 goals in a season at age 33 or older. Wow.
Alex Ovechkin (33 years, 108 days) is the third player in NHL history to be the first to 30 goals in a season at age 33 or older, joining 34-year-old Bill Cook in 1930-31 and 36-year-old Teemu Selanne in 2006-07. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/VHzfvHG9LN
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 4, 2019
Even more impressively, Ovechkin also became the second player in NHL history to begin his career with 14 consecutive 30-goal seasons, tying Mike Gartner in the process.
Alex Ovechkin is the second player in NHL history to score at least 30 goals in each of his first 14 seasons, joining longtime @Capitals forward Mike Gartner (15; 1979-80 to 1993-94). #NHLStats #WSHvsSTL pic.twitter.com/azdGqOeGCi
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 4, 2019
Only Jaromir Jagr and Mike Gartner have more 30-goal seasons.
Alex Ovechkin has secured his 14th career 30-goal season, which ties him with Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Marcel Dionne.
The only players to achieve this more times are:
Jaromír Jagr (15x) and Mike Gartner (17x).
Legend.
(h/t @NHLBlinn) pic.twitter.com/2lv4TxydL6
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 4, 2019
Alex Ovechkin of the @Capitals is the sixth player in NHL history to reach the 30-goal mark in at least 14 total seasons (consecutive or otherwise). #NHLStats https://t.co/8uaenkZOF9 #WSHvsSTL pic.twitter.com/ryZdQTp9nu
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 4, 2019
During the first intermission, Ovechkin spoke to NBC Sports Washington’s Alan May and didn’t seem too impressed by his latest bit of history.
Alex Ovechkin on scoring 30 goals again: "I would say it's nice to see. Good job by my teammates obviously. They put me in a good spot and I just have to use my chances." pic.twitter.com/oKLRas4NP3
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) January 4, 2019
Ovechkin now has 636 career goals and is only four away from Dave Andreychuk for 14th all-time on the NHL goals list.
