With the secondary assist on TJ Oshie’s game-opening goal, Alex Ovechkin has become the highest scoring Russian-born player in NHL history.
So that’s nice.
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TJ Oshie forced a turnover in the offensive zone, which Ovi turned into a chance. Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom made the save, but Nicklas Backstrom caught the rebound. Again Markstrom stopped it, but TJ Oshie sunk the second rebound.
Ovechkin hopped and pumped his arms twice to celebrate.
It’s Oshie’s 16th goal of the season, but it’s Ovechkin’s 1,180 career point.
Most points by a Russian-born player: NHL history#ALLCAPS Alex Ovechkin: 1,180
Sergei Fedorov: 1,179
Alexander Mogilny: 1,032
Alexei Kovalev: 1,029— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 6, 2019
He has now passed his childhood idol and former teammate Sergei Fedorov for the most among Russian players.
Chalk up another milestone for Alex Ovechkin.@ovi8 surpassed Sergei Fedorov (1,179) for the most points by a Russian player in NHL history. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/NQqqTijhhw
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 6, 2019
John Carlson retrieved the milestone puck for the Caps captain.
Ovechkin initially tied the record January 23 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Everyone in my generation wanted to be like Fedorov and I learned a lot from him,” Ovechkin told NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen that night. “He was a unique player who could play any position: D, wing, center. I bet he could have even played goalie.”
