Alex Ovechkin hit Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the mask after a set play off a faceoff.
Ovechkin would not miss on the same exact play seconds later.
The goal was Ovechkin’s 807th career goal and narrowed the Buffalo Sabres’ lead to 3-2 in the second period.
Ovechkin took the faceoff win from Evgeny Kuznetsov and sniped it high and to the top corner just under the bar.
Off the draw 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ocXM0v1CGy
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 4, 2023
Here’s how it looked from the stands. (Notably, they were playing Ice Ice Baby before the puck was dropped).
@rmnb 807 pic.twitter.com/vj8WUa13rA
— Jennifer Bimson (@Jencapsfan74) January 4, 2023
Luukkonen is now the 167th different goaltender Ovechkin has scored on in his career.
The goal also marks Ovechkin's first career goal against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the 167th different goaltender Ovechkin has scored on in his career. Only Jaromir Jagr (178) and Patrick Marleau (177) have scored on more goaltenders in NHL history.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 4, 2023
The goal was Ovechkin’s 27th of the season. He now has five goals in the last three games.
With the tally, Ovechkin now trails Wayne Gretzky by Sidney Crosby goals.
Per the Capitals PR, Ovechkin is two home goals away from becoming the fifth player ever to reach 400 in a career.
It marks Ovechkin's 398th career goal scored at home. Ovechkin is two goals shy of becoming the fifth player in NHL history to score 400 home goals.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 4, 2023
Goal number 807 is special for another reason, too. Ovechkin has the stick that Wayne Gretzky scored his 807th goal with after fulfilling Gretzky’s personal challenge of winning the Stanley Cup. Gretzky couldn’t find the stick he scored his 808th goal with so he gave him his 807 twig.
