Alex Ovechkin scored goals 694 and 695 on Friday night in Ottawa. That second goal, an empty-netter in the final minute, put Ovi one goal above Mark Messier and locked him into eighth place in the all-time goal-scoring list.
I’ll warn you right now: this isn’t necessarily an exciting play.
An ENG for the #Gr8 gets him No. 695! pic.twitter.com/XbzddgQb0I
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 1, 2020
The celebration, I suppose, is good though.
“I had plenty of chances today to score more,” Ovechkin told the press after the game, “but I’ll take two [goals] and move forward.”
He wasn’t kidding about the chances. Ovechkin attempted 19 shots in Friday night’s game, a season high.
Seventh place all-time, at 708 goals, is held by Mike Gartner, who played 10 years of career with Washington. Judging by Ovi’s scoring pace, which is the highest it has ever been (eleven in his last five games), Ovi should get there in like 45 minutes.
Here's an inscrutable line graph of Alex Ovechkin's goal-scoring in five-game streaks. He's 34 years old and has never been hotter than he is right now. pic.twitter.com/PXrlTHSXM7
— Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) February 1, 2020
Meanwhile, Ovechkin is now tied with Boston’s David Pastrnak for the league lead in goals, 37.
Even though Ovechkin’s goals helped defeat the Ottawa Senators, fans in Canadian Tire Centre erupted in an “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!” chant at the final buzzer.
695 for Alex Ovechkin. 8th all time. Fans close out game with “O-V” chant. Unreal pic.twitter.com/SIWN04nIrP
— Graham Creech (@Creech__) February 1, 2020
The admiration is universal.
