Alex Ovechkin went his third consecutive game to open the season without a goal, but he still managed to be the difference in the Washington Capitals’ 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers, Sunday.
The 40-year-old winger had the primary assist on Anthony Beauvillier’s second-period tally that ultimately ended up being the game-winner.
With seemingly everyone in the building thinking he would shoot, Ovechkin utilized an indirect shot that Beavillier deftly redirected past Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick from the side of the net.
“Beau-tiful,” the Capitals wrote on X.
The tweet wasn’t the only pun inspired by the goal.
“O-Beau!” said one teammate in the locker room, probably John Carlson, after Spencer Carbery saluted “O and Beau’s… big f***ing play.”
Incredibly, the primary assist was Ovechkin’s 1,625th career point in the NHL and his 728th apple — second in franchise history only to Nicklas Backstrom’s 762. Ovechkin’s stat line now reads: 897 goals, 728 assists, and 1,625 points in 1,494 games.
“One of those plays where you’re just trying to get open around the net,” Beauvillier said to reporters of his goal. “[Ovi] didn’t have a lane to the net, (so he) [found] my stick, and one of those where you’re happy it goes in. It’s a good play. It’s a good look by O there… a great read by him.”
Ovechkin now has two points — both primary assists — in the Capitals’ first three games of the season. He’s also fired 8 shots on goal and has 18 individual shot attempts — second only to Jakob Chychrun (22).
