Despite Ovechkin climbing up the scoring ladder there was one thing that eluded him and he entered the 2017-18 season ready to change that narrative. There was talk about whether the Caps should trade him, whether he was washed up, yada yada yada. True fans knew Ovechkin would be fine and that he would bounce back better than ever.
That season saw Ovechkin score 49 goals including his 600th career goal which took place on March 12 against the Winnipeg Jets on a great rebound play in front of the net. He became the 20th player to reach that number and the fourth to do it in less than 1,000 games.
Ovechkin later hit his 1,000th game on April 1st in Pittsburgh. As impressive as these milestones were, nothing compared to what happened the following spring. Ovechkin was a man on a mission with 15 goals in 24 playoff games helping the Caps to their first ever Stanley Cup.
His Cup lift over his head may have been the most epic of all time. His handoff to Backstrom made Capitals fans, including myself, tear up everywhere.
Ovechkin had his shortest offseason ever but overcame that obstacle with a 51-goal season and four goals in the playoffs in a tough, hard fought series that saw the Caps come up short.