The Washington Capitals won their 14th consecutive game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday. And they got a lot of help from their best players.
Nicklas Backstrom scored the game-winning goal in the third period, Braden Holtby was a brick wall making 39 saves, and Alex Ovechkin had his 128th career two-goal game.
Ovi did a bit of everything. He had five shots, four hits, checked Zdeno Chara into the Caps bench, and made two fans’ nights.
Not bad!
Goal 1
Ovechkin’s first goal came 14:50 into the second period at even strength. It gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead.
After Evgeny Kuznetsov reversed the puck to Tom Wilson behind the net, the Willy Mammoth slid a pass to Alex Ovechkin hanging out between the circles. The Russian machine fired a quick wrister from the circle past Jaroslav Halak.
Ovi kissed his glove and let out a big roar after he scored.
Goal 2
Because of his strong game, Capitals head coach put Ovechkin out on the ice with Halak pulled and the Bruins having an extra man. Ovi sealed the deal with an empty-net goal from 140-feet away.
Ovechkin was unable to nab a hat trick on a second empty-net goal.
Ovi gives away stick
After the game, Ovechkin gave his stick away to a girl who brought a sign to the game.
It read Ovi Can I Have Your Stick?
Ovi makes another fan’s day
During warmups, Ovechkin also made sure to give a puck away to a kid celebrating his birthday.
Big hit in front of the net
sit. down. pic.twitter.com/CzNbJAonko
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 11, 2019
That’s some big boy hockey right there.
Ovi by the numbers
And then the history. How can we forget the history? Ovechkin’s two goals allowed him to close in on Dave Andreychuk for 14th all-time on the NHL goals list. He also tied Mario Lemieux for third all-time in empty-net goals.
#ALLCAPS Alex Ovechkin scores his 397th career even-strength goal, tying Maurice Richard for 18th in NHL history.
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 11, 2019
6,186 NHL players in NHL history have played in at least one NHL game and have recorded 128 goals or fewer in their career. https://t.co/XUUuuuwJzo
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 11, 2019
Burying an empty netter in a 4-2 @Capitals win tonight, Alex Ovechkin passes Mike Bossy & Jaromir Jagr for 9th all-time in career multi-goal games (128). Only 4 wingers in NHL history have had more
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) January 11, 2019
That empty net goal is Ovechkin's 33rd of his career. That's tied with Mario Lemieux for the third most empty net goals in NHL history.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 11, 2019
Alex Ovechkin's goal tonight to make it 2-1 @Capitals vs BOS ties him with Bobby Hull for 50th in career points but 5th most by a primary left winger (1170. Most: 1394- Luc Robitaille)
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) January 11, 2019
It also moves Ovechkin past Mario Lemieux for the 8th most career goals scored on the road in NHL regular season history (316. Most: 402- Wayne Gretzky) https://t.co/jUc2TBgpRE
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) January 11, 2019
Most Goals Since Start of 2009-10:#ALLCAPS Ovechkin – 418#GoBolts Stamkos – 348#LeafsForever Tavares – 299#LetsGoPens Crosby – 299#Blackhawks Kane – 290
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 10, 2019
Not a bad night!
