Washington Capitals: Top 5 Alex Ovechkin goals of 2021

#3 The 2nd of two clutch 3rd period goals to stun Rangers

Again who says Ovechkin isn’t clutch? He once again came through a couple nights after he passed Phil Esposito. Trailing 1-0 in the third, Ovechkin scored at 13:18 and 16:27 to flip the script. Both goals were similar as they didn’t come from the Ovechkin office. Instead, these goals were gritty as Ovechkin wasn’t afraid to drive to the net. That’s what made this goal special. It was the second of two goals in the final seven minutes of the game.

Ovechkin told the media in an article by Roman Stubbs of The Washington Post (subscription required):

"“Sometimes you have to get those really gritty ones. It’s still the same whether it’s goal from my spot [in the left faceoff circle] or whatever. It’s most important goal, and it’ll take it.”"

Ovechkin’s efforts that night tied him with Gordie Howe for the fourth most career multi goal games (147). The three ahead of them are Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull and Mario Lemieux. It was also Ovechkin’s 115th game winning goal which put him three shy of tying Phil Esposito for third place in NHL history. It marked the fifth straight game he scored and eighth in his last 10 games. it was easily Ovi’s best stretch of the season.