Alex Ovechkin scores 802nd goal, passing Gordie Howe for second all-time
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Alex Ovechkin moved one notch higher on the NHL’s goals list Friday night, scoring his 801st and 802nd to pass Gordie Howe for No. 2 all-time.
The milestone goal was an empty-netter with 1:00 left in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena. His first goal of the night came near the end of the first period.
The only name above Ovechkin’s now is that of the “Great One” — Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goals, once believed to be unapproachable, is the top of the mountain. And given that the 37-year-old Ovechkin’s scoring pace has barely slowed with age, it’s likely a matter of when — not if — No. 8 passes the legendary No. 99.
“It is just crazy to see and it is a huge number and it is a great accomplishment for his game, for his person and for his family, too,” longtime Capitals teammate Dmitry Orlov said. “The way he is going now, for sure it is awesome and you hope he is going to stay healthy — and another day, another milestone.”
Howe died in 2016 at 88. Ovechkin met him at the 2009 All-Star Game in Montreal. A signed photo of Ovechkin and Howe together in the dressing room remains Ovechkin’s “top thing” in his collection, he said.
“Obviously, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky’s stick, Mario Lemieux’s stick — [the photo is] probably the top one,” he said.
On hand for 801 and 802 was Ovechkin’s brother, Mikhail; his wife, Nastya; and two sons, Sergei, 4, and Ilya, 2. All have been in attendance for Washington’s past three home games, when Ovechkin had his chances to catch Howe but couldn’t light the lamp.
On Friday, with all eyes on him, Ovechkin made sure he put on a show.
“I’m proud not for myself, but I’m proud for the organization, for the fans who have been with us all those years, ups and downs, and, obviously, we’re still not done and we just move forward,” Ovechkin said earlier in the week.
Ovechkin’s first goal Friday tied Howe’s record 18 minutes 22 seconds into the first period to give Washington a 1-0 lead. His wrist shot from the circle got past Jets goalie David Rittich, the 166th goaltender Ovechkin has scored on in his remarkable career.
Then the chase was on for a second.
“I think we all create history right now. It’s a pretty special moment and I’m pretty happy,” Ovechkin told NBC Sports Washington during first intermission.
Ovechkin has nine goals in his past nine games. For the season, he has 22 goals in 36 games — a 50-goal pace. The Capitals struggled to start the year, but the captain has helped his injury-ravaged team stay afloat.
“He’s on pace again for another great year,” Coach Peter Laviolette said. “He’s in great shape. He’s obviously got tremendous ability and talent when it comes to doing what he does. He loves the game. He’s got a passion and a purpose when he takes the ice. I think all of those things combined and the fact that he’s been able to play in a lot of games, all of that adds up to having the ability to play consistent.”
Teammates have long praised Ovechkin’s abilities, but as he ticked off one legend after another during his march up the goals list, the appreciation reached at a new level.
“Seven or eight years ago, no one even talked about it even though he was clearly on the same trajectory he is now,” defenseman John Carlson said. “It went from ‘Maybe, kinda’ to ‘Holy crap, this is coming around pretty soon.’ … You get to play with a guy for 13 years that has beaten these guys in the history books — and it is pretty cool stuff.”
With 802 behind him, Ovechkin can take a moment to breathe. But the expectations don’t end at No. 2.
“Everyone is waiting for the Gretzky record, and it is not going to be easy,” Orlov said. “Everyone knows it, and he does, too. It’s a lot of work and sometimes luck, too. There is a long way to go.”
Added forward Anthony Mantha: “I think once he’s going to be number one, he can have a sense of relief. Until then, he’s on the hunt — and that’s what we love about him.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.