Alex Ovechkin has goals in two straight games after scoring twice in the Washington Capitals’ 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday.
Both of Ovechkin’s goals came in the first period, utilizing his big body like he was a Russian Mike Knuble.
“I think we watch video from last game,” Ovechkin said at intermission to Monumental Sports Network, referring to the Capitals’ loss to the Penguins Thursday. “We didn’t have lots of traffic. We didn’t have lots of bodies going to the net and it was kind of easy for the goalie. I think right now we have to send a message to all of us. We have to play smart, we have to play simple, go to the net and find a gritty one.”
Instead of setting up shop in his office, Ovi went to the hard areas of the ice where the puck found him both times.
Career goal no. 850
Ovechkin’s first goal came off a faceoff win by Dylan Strome. Trevor van Riemsdyk threw a point shot on net that bounced off traffic and Pyotr Kochetkov’s left pad. The rebound went right onto Ovechkin’s blade where he deposited the biscuit into the yawning cage.
The five-on-five goal came at 3:31 into the first period and TVR and Strome got the assists.
The Capitals made an infographic to celebrate the milestone 850th tally, but it didn’t remain relevant for long.
With his game-opening goal tonight against Carolina, Alex Ovechkin has become the only player in NHL history to score 850 goals with one franchise. pic.twitter.com/2unteQwa0L
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 5, 2024
Career goal no. 851
With 45 seconds remaining in the period, Ovechkin struck again after another Strome faceoff win. Ovi went to the net where he deflected a high John Carlson shot from the point. If you look closely, Ovechkin redirected the puck at shoulder level to beat Kochetkov again.
Carlson and Strome got the assists.
With 851 goals, Ovechkin now trails Wayne Gretzky by 43 – forty-three – for a share of the NHL’s all-time goals record.
The two-goal night gave Ovechkin his 173rd career multi-goal game per Capitals PR. He trails Gretzky (189) by 16 for the most in NHL history.
Ovechkin now has 21 goals in his last 30 games and is one goal shy of 30 on the season. If Ovi can hit the 30-goal mark, he will pass Mike Gartner for the most 30-goal seasons in NHL history (18).
Ovechkin incredibly has the third-most goals in the NHL since January 27.
Ovechkin ranks third in the NHL in goals (21) since Jan. 27, trailing only Auston Matthews (24) and Zach Hyman (23).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 6, 2024
Ovi has three different goals on Pyotr Kochetkov over the last two weeks.
And he also gave us nuggets and discount pizza on Wrestlemania weekend. Whatta guy.
Lunch AND dinner covered, courtesy of Ovi!
Enjoy a free 6-piece Chicken McNuggets with minimum $1 purchase tomorrow on the app.
📲 https://t.co/qh48FCCHxI #ALLCAPS | @McDonalds pic.twitter.com/G05Q6wD7Ey
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 6, 2024
