Alex Ovechkin racked up another mind-boggling milestone in the Washington Capitals’ 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, Tuesday.
With two assists in the game, Ovechkin hit 700 apples in his career, putting him in some even more rare air.
The Capitals captain is now the sixth player in NHL history with 700-plus goals and 700 assists, joining Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne, and Phil Esposito.
With two assists tonight, Alex Ovechkin becomes the sixth player in NHL history with 700-plus goals and 700 assists. pic.twitter.com/fVKBuhoHYc
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 16, 2024
“When you play 20 years in hockey, I’m pretty sure you’ll get same number,” Ovechkin said. “Yeah, it’s pretty big number. Nice to be in that company. So, yeah, we’ll move forward.”
Ovechkin’s historic assist came on Aliaksei Protas’s game-winning goal in the second period. Handling the puck in the far corner, Ovi found the big Belorussian forward wide open in the slot for a one-timer. Protas’s shot beat Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill, giving the Capitals a 3-1 lead.
“Obviously, make a move, try to find middle guy,” Ovechkin said. “It work pretty well, so we’ll take it.”
“I thought O was really – whether it has to do with wing or whatever – he makes that play happen on that goal,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery added. “Great job using his feet, cuts back, creates some space. That’s a huge play in that moment.”
Earlier in the period, Ovechkin also earned the secondary assist on Tom Wilson’s power-play goal, giving the Capitals a 2-1 lead.
According to Capitals PR, 427 of Ovechkin’s 700 career assists are primaries (61.0%) though post-game, the Russian forward was unwilling to acknowledge how much of an elite playmaker he also is.
“It’s because of lots of shots, lots of rebounds coming from the net,” Ovechkin said. “I’ll take it.”
Ovechkin is only one of seven active players in the NHL who now have 700 assists or more. He joins Sidney Crosby and Capitals franchise assist leader Nicklas Backstrom, who is in the final year of his contract but on long-term injured reserve.
Alex Ovechkin collected 0-2—2 through the first two periods and reached the 700-assist milestone. He joined Nicklas Backstrom (762) as the second player in @Capitals history to record 700 helpers with the franchise.#NHLStats: https://t.co/ZdWdMPEO0C pic.twitter.com/l1vei5MKet
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 16, 2024
Depending on how he plays in the next two seasons, Ovechkin could surpass his longtime centerman in assists by the end of his career. Ovechkin trails Backstrom by 62 and has had between 32 and 40 assists during his last three campaigns.
Ovechkin’s next major milestone will be 1,600 points. He currently sits 47 points away with 1,553.
