We can’t wait to see what Alex Ovechkin brings when the season is back.
In the meantime, we can only wonder how many more goals Alex Ovechkin would’ve piled up for the Washington Capitals if their last 13 regular season games had been played. After all, he did have 48 and was flirting with another 50 goal season before the pause.
But there’s nothing we can do about the environment around us right now. So if you’re looking for a post ranting about that, you’ve come to the wrong place. Instead, this post will celebrate just how incredible an athlete Ovechkin is and how lucky we are to witness greatness night after night.
We all know Ovechkin took home his third straight Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy tying for the league lead in goals this season with David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins. No other player has won this award more than twice since it’s creation in 1998-99. Ovechkin has won it an NHL record nine times including seven in the last eight seasons.
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Ovechkin became the third player in NHL history to lead the league in goals at the age of 34 or older, joining Bill Cook (1932-33, 28 goals in 48 games) and Gordie Howe (1962-63: 38 goals in 70 games). He also is just the fourth player in NHL history to score 48 or more goals in a season at 34 or older, joining Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06 (54 goals, 34 years old), Johnny Bucyk in 1970-71 (51 goals, age 35) and Teemu Selanne in 2006-07 (48 goals, age 36).
Ovechkin’s ninth Rocket Richard Trophy is the latest addition to a trophy case that includes a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Calder Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, three Hart Memorial Trophies, and three Ted Lindsay Awards. He’s the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe, a Calder, an Art Ross, a Hart, a Ted Lindsay, and a Maurice Richard Trophy.
There’s nothing in sports like attending a Capitals game and hearing the goal siren go off, especially after an exhilarating Ovechkin goal. Fans flocked to Capital One night after night this season in hopes of seeing Ovechkin chase 700 goals. While he did it on the road in New Jersey, he got to celebrate the achievement with fans and got thunderous ovations.
We can’t wait to see what he brings to the new playoff format that promises to be as silly as this season turned out to be. Of course, it’s a ride we want to enjoy and someday the sports world should make a documentary about his storied career with the Caps.