Former Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau was worried Alex Ovechkin would have a breakout game against his Vancouver Canucks.
His concerns were well-founded.
Fifty-five seconds into the game, Ovechkin ended his three-game goalless streak to start the season and scored his first tally of the year via the power play. Ovi was left confusingly wide open in his office by Canucks penalty killers.
After a rotation play with Dylan Strome, Marcus Johansson took the puck and sent a saucer pass over a diving Canucks defender near the crease. Ovi caught the puck with his stick, gathered himself, and then fired a wrister low to the ice. Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko made the initial save but kicked the puck into the net as it stayed under his left pad.
Nature is healing pic.twitter.com/qPxHNG82gC
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 17, 2022
TJ Oshie’s dogged pursuit of the puck in the crease likely caused Demko to panic.
7️⃣8️⃣1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/kBvalPlfiF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 17, 2022
During wamrups, Ovi made sure to acknowledge his old coach by pointing him at the Canucks bench.
OV showing some love to Brucey 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SY5Own3Lw7
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 17, 2022
In terms of history, the goal marked Alex Ovechkin’s 781st goal of his career, putting him 20 behind Gordie Howe for second and 113 behind Wayne Gretzky for first on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
The goal also marked Ovechkin’s 286th career power-play goal, extending his lead over second place Dave Andreychuk (274) by 12.
Ovechkin now has the second most game-opening goals in NHL history.
Per NBC Sports Washington, Alex Ovechkin now sits second all-time in game-opening goals.
135 – Jaromir Jagr
132 – Alex Ovechkin
131 – Brett Hull— Ian Oland (@ianoland) October 17, 2022
And perhaps most impressively, Ovechkin now trails Gordie Howe by six for the all-time lead in goals with one franchise (786).
Ovechkin is now also six goals shy of passing Howe (786g) for the most goals with one franchise in NHL history.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 17, 2022
Ovechkin continues to torment Bruce Boudreau and has 10 goals in 14 games against Bruce-led teams.
Alex Ovechkin now has 10 goals, 10 assists, and 20 points overall in 14 games against Bruce Boudreau-coached teams per @RealSmokinAl.
Seven of those goals have come via the power play.
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) October 17, 2022
Ovechkin’s goal came on his 14th shot this season. The 2022-23 season marked only the second time in Ovechkin’s career the Russian winger went without scoring in his first three games of a season.
Ovechkin’s goal song remains Shake, Rattle, and Roll.
