Alexander Ovechkin scores 801and et 802and goals of his career and thus surpasses Gordie Howe as the second best scorer in the NHL
Alexander Ovechkin is on a mission. His run for the record continues and here he is now only in second place among the best scorers in the history of the National Hockey League. After a four-game “shortage”, the Russian scored his 801and et 802and goal on Friday in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
He thus overtook Gordie Howe and is only 93 away from winning the record held by Wayne Gretzky since March 1994. “I’m going one step at a time”, the great striker had however relativized last week.
The Caps captain’s historic goal came with 1:38 left in the first half. Ovechkin converted a wrist shot from the right circle, after receiving a back pass from Dylan Strome. David Rittich was beaten between the pads.
The 802and the goal came with about a minute remaining, into an empty net, as his teammates gallantly gave him every chance to score. “I tried to put it back [Evgeny] Kuznetsov, but he didn’t want it, ”Ovechkin defended. Players stood up in celebration, then a video of Mark Howe, son of Gordie Howe, was presented on the giant screen. “We want to congratulate you on this achievement. Watching you play has been a real pleasure. »
In a rather rare moment, Jets players congratulated him after the game. “It feels good to do it at home in front of family, friends and fans,” Ovechkin told the crowd. It’s big. He then thanked his family, also addressing them in Russian.
There were his teammates’ “Ovie, Ovie”, then Ovechkin posed in the locker room with his two sons as well as his historic records. But how does he intend to celebrate this milestone?
“I go to a bar. Hot dogs, nachos. Why not ? “, he launched, laughing at the reporters, before becoming more serious. “Thanks for the support. The story of him. Who will be next to score 800 goals? I hope someone will. I’m lucky to stay healthy to score all those goals. I want to thank my teammates, my coaches for their trust. Without them I would never have achieved these goals. »
defining moment
This is obviously a defining moment for “Ovie,” who has some admiration for Mr. Hockey, who died in 2016. The two men met at the 2009 All-Star Game in Montreal, and Ovechkin keeps a photo of this encounter autographed by Howe . “It’s definitely my favorite item in my collection,” he said. There’s Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky sticks or Mario Lemieux, but that’s probably my favorite thing. »
PHOTO NICK WASS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alexander Ovechkin greets Washington Capitals fans after the game in which he finished second in NHL scoring.
Ovechkin scored his first NHL goal on October 5, 2005. In fact, the right footer had scored a double in his league debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Number 8 had turned on the red light with a single slap from the top of the circles. A way of doing that has become his trademark. A ritual. A cannonball, a big smile, knee on the ground, one leg in the air, forefinger pointing to the sky, sometimes pushing himself into the bay window, Ovechkin became an immortal.
With his yellow laces and tinted visor, he was already promised a bright future when he was picked first in the 2004 amateur draft.
A staunch supporter of the Washington Capitals, the 37-year-old has spent each of his 18 NHL seasons in that team’s uniform. He broke the 50-goal mark nine times and the 60-goal mark once in 2007-08. He has been awarded nine times with the Maurice-Richard trophy, awarded to the top scorer of the season.
Ovechkin signed a five-year contract extension in July 2021, which would theoretically allow him to overtake Marvel.
Its main victims
Ovechkin has made over 166 goalkeepers look bad since the start of his career. With his lightning-fast shooting and exquisite hands, he scored aplenty, but some goalkeepers tasted it more often than others.
It was Marc-André Fleury who was beaten most often by Alex the Great. The Quebecer allowed him 25 goals during their clashes.
Fleury is closely followed by Henrik Lundqvist, with 24, then Carey Price and Kari Lehtonen, who each missed the puck 22 times.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Alexander Ovechkin scores against Carey Price in a game played at the Bell Center in November 2018.
Among his most memorable goals will be the moment he scored his 50thand net of the season, March 19, 2009, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After scoring, he put his stick on the ice to pretend his CCM was on fire.
However, his most significant goal will forever be that of January 16, 2006 against the Phoenix Coyotes. Ovechkin had grabbed the puck right on the center line, and at the hoops he had cut down the middle by passing the puck under Paul Mara’s stick. The Russian had fallen on his back and pushed the puck, which was underneath him, into the back of his head, while goalkeeper Brian Boucher made an outing to try and intercept the prolific scorer. This goal is considered by many to be the most spectacular in hockey history.
