Alex Ovechkin’s 891st career goal was one of the easiest tallies of his career.
After a pinpoint passing play by John Carlson and Dylan Strome, Ovechkin tapped the puck into a yawning net to move within four of hockey immortality.
Ovechkin’s power-play goal gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead over the Boston Bruins and came with 4:17 remaining in the first period. Strome and Carlson received the assists. The Capitals captain got a loud cheer from the TD Garden crowd after lighting the lamp.
Ovechkin’s now on pace to tie Wayne Gretzky’s goals record on April 10 versus Carolina and break it on April 13 against Columbus.
“It’s incredible,” Nic Dowd said at intermission to Monumental Sports Network’s Al Koken. “What he’s done for his entire career has been spectacular. Greatest goal-scorer of all time. The beautiful thing about it is everyone knows it’s coming and he keeps doing it. That’s what makes it most impressive. It’s a great play by Johnny and Stromer. The power play did a really good job there. It was a great finish. Good to see the power play get on the board again there.”
The tally marked Ovechkin’s 38th goal of the season and extended his NHL all-time power-play goal record to 322. It also was the second time Ovechkin has scored on Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
