Saturday night Alex Ovechkin reminded the world of his gr8ness when he scored his fiftieth goal of the season–and then his fifty-first less than two minutes later.
We are now inside Ovechkin’s eighth season with fifty or more goals. As Vin Masi pointed out on Twitter: that’s one more fifty-goal season than all other active NHL players put together.
50-Goal Seasons:
Alex Ovechkin – 8
All other active NHL players combined – 7
— Vin Masi (@VinMasi) March 31, 2019
So more than half of all big-goal seasons have come from Ovechkin, who is also the only player to score 50-plus goals since 2011-12.
The only other active players with more than one 50-goal season are Ilya Kovalchuck and Steven Stamkos. They have two apiece.
| Player | Season | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | 2005-06 | 52 |
| Ilya Kovalchuk | 2005-06 | 52 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2007-08 | 65 |
| Ilya Kovalchuk | 2007-08 | 52 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2008-09 | 56 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2009-10 | 50 |
| Sidney Crosby | 2009-10 | 51 |
| Steven Stamkos | 2009-10 | 51 |
| Corey Perry | 2010-11 | 50 |
| Evgeni Malkin | 2011-12 | 50 |
| Steven Stamkos | 2011-12 | 60 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2013-14 | 51 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2014-15 | 53 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2015-16 | 50 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2018-19 | 51 |
With NHL scoring up overall, there’s a chance Ovechkin will have company. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl has 47 goals, and Toronto’s John Tavares has 45.
Ovechkin’s fiftieth goal was a thing of beauty.
If Ovechkin has one more 50-goal campaign, he will tie Wayne Gretzy and Mike Bossy for the most in NHL history. That’s not bad company to be in.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Headline photo: Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images
