Alex Ovechkin put back a rebound and skated into the spotlight as the latest member of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 600-goal club.
The captain of the Washington Capitals scored twice Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets to reach the milestone in his 990th regular-season game. Ovechkin became the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to 600 behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull.
B次元官网网址 | Becomes Fourth-Fastest Player in History to Score 600 Goals
B次元官网网址� Washington Capitals (@Capitals)
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OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 rebound goal past Connor Hellebuyck 3:53 into the second period was his 42nd of the season as he tries to hit 50 for the eighth time. His first goal 4:35 into the first period came on a 5-on-3 power play as the Russian winger looked determined to reach 600 after several games on the doorstep.
Capitals fans who have watched Ovechkin shine as the most productive goal scorer of the past decade-plus gave him a standing ovation for almost a minute after he reached the mark. Chants of B次元官网网址淥vi! Ovi!B次元官网网址� continued as he waved from the bench in the moments after and during a video montage at the next timeout.
After scoring 33 goals in 2016-17, his second-lowest total in a non-lockout-shortened season, the 32-year-old OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 resurgence made his climb to 600 all the more impressive. No player 32 or older has led the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito in 1974-75.
B次元官网网址淗e probably is the best goal scorer of our generation,B次元官网网址� said Tom Wilson, who had the primary assist on OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 600th. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty fun when every time you get him the puck thereB次元官网网址檚 a good chance heB次元官网网址檚 going to put it in the back of the net.B次元官网网址�
Ovechkin recaptured sole possession of the NHL lead against Jets winger Patrik Laine, who had tied him after idolizing the star forward growing up. Even while hoping Ovechkin wouldnB次元官网网址檛 score No. 600 against Winnipeg, Laine canB次元官网网址檛 help but appreciate the scoring pace.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 pretty amazing to reach that,B次元官网网址� Laine said Monday morning. B次元官网网址淪ix-hundred goals in under 1,000 games, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty unreal.B次元官网网址�
Two former Capitals teammates, Matt Hendricks and Mathieu Perreault, were watching from the JetsB次元官网网址� side when Ovechkin reached his latest round number in a career full of accomplishments.
B次元官网网址淲hen I played here, itB次元官网网址檚 funny, you always want to get the puck on his stick,B次元官网网址� said Hendricks, who was in the penalty box for OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 first goal. B次元官网网址淗e has that ability to change games just like that. B次元官网网址� OviB次元官网网址檚 a terrific talent.B次元官网网址�
Perreault, who played with 684-goal scorer Teemu Selanne in Anaheim, said Ovechkin reaching 600 so quickly was indescribable.
B次元官网网址淭he way he can shoot the puck and score goals is beyond what you can even think about,B次元官网网址� Perreault said. B次元官网网址淚 can tell my grandkids, my kids, I played with Ovechkin. HeB次元官网网址檚 going to be a legend of the game.B次元官网网址�
Ovechkin has been an impressive scorer for a long time, but had to adapt his game several years ago when opponents figured out how to stop some of his usual moves. Barry Trotz taking over as Capitals coach helped Ovechkin round out his overall game and avoid the kind of lull that goal-scorers typically hit when they turn 30.
The growth in OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 game isnB次元官网网址檛 lost on players and coaches around the league who have watched his career.
B次元官网网址淲hen he came in (he was) a hitter almost B次元官网网址� a shooter and a hitter,B次元官网网址� Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. B次元官网网址淗e was a very physical player, covered an awful lot of ice during the games. And heB次元官网网址檚 matured into kind of picking his spots, heB次元官网网址檚 still a hard guy to play against, physically very, very strong.
B次元官网网址淏ut he uses the people around him better, maybe. And thatB次元官网网址檚 true of all players. But his game has really changed. HeB次元官网网址檚 really grown and matured.B次元官网网址�
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
