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Capitals: Top 3 impact players to watch against Canadiens

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals wears Kobe Bryant’s number 24 on his jersey as he warm ups before playing against the Nashville Predators at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. Ovechkin wore the number 24 to honor former NBA player Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals wears Kobe Bryant’s number 24 on his jersey as he warm ups before playing against the Nashville Predators at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. Ovechkin wore the number 24 to honor former NBA player Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in action against the Montreal Canadiens at Capital One Arena on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in action against the Montreal Canadiens at Capital One Arena on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin looks to end a season long five game goal-less drought and finally score his 700th goal. Ironically I predicted tonight would be the night a few weeks ago.

Tonight is Ovechkin’s 1,143rd game. It took Wayne Gretzky 886 games and Brett Hull 1,157 games to reach 700 goals meaning Ovechkin would become the third fastest player to reach the mark if he gets two goals tonight. He would make the jump from 600 to 700 in just 153 games, the fewest games to make a leap for any member of the 700-goal club.

Per the game notes, Ovechkin has averaged 0.61 goals per game in his career, ranking fifth in NHL history which includes an NHL-best 0.58 rating since his 30th birthday in 2015. Only two players in the 700 goal club have scored at a rate of .50 goals per game or higher from the age of 30 on.

Facing Ovechkin will be Canadiens netminder Carey Price. In his career, Ovechin has 20 goals against him which is the fourth-most goals he has scored against a single netminder.

Ovechkin had four shots on goal the other night in Washington’s defeat against Vegas in 21:31. Look for him to get the puck often to put on a show for the home fans.

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