Washington Capitals: Breaking down Alex Ovechkin’s hot 2021 start
Death, taxes and Alex Ovechkin scoring goals. Despite turning age 36, despite some critics saying he was done, Ovechkin not only leads the Washington Capitals in scoring but is first in the entire league as well. But this is no surprise. Ovechkin has defied Father Time in years past and it looks like this year will be no different.
Ovechkin paces the NHL with 11 goals in 12 games this season entering tonight’s game agains the Detroit Red Wings. Among players to start a season at age 36 or older in NHL history, Ovechkin required the second fewest games to reach the 20 point mark in a season, tied with 40 year old Gordie Howe (12 games in 1968-68 with the Red Wings), 37 year old Johnny Bucyk (12 games in 1972-73 with the Boston Bruins) and 36 year old Maurice “Rocket” Richard (12 games in 1957-58 with the Montreal Canadiens). 37 year old Mario Lemieux (nine games in 2002-03 with the Pittsburgh Penguins) is the only one to reach the mark in fewer contests.
Of course all eyes will be on Ovechkin tonight against the Red Wings for a good reason, he needs one goal to pass Brett Hull for sole possession of fourth place all time in NHL goal scoring history. He hopes to even add to his game used stick collection.
It was a collection that began when Lemieux gave him his game used stick. It has grown to over 200 with twigs used by a variety of players including Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ovechkin also has game used sticks that he used himself from each milestone goal. Remember the “hot stick” celebration in 2009 when Ovechkin had another 50 goal season? Ovechkin has it. The latest twig added to his collection was the stick he used the other night to tie Hull’s record against the Buffalo Sabres.
It will be quite the collection when Ovechkin finally hangs up his skates. He hopes to have his own museum in Russia displaying his collection since it’s hard to see live NHL games over there. He’s even saved every stick from each goal he’s scored this season as the great eight continues his climb up the ladder. While his wife has grown a bit irritated with more sticks being added, his son Sergei loves it.
Once Ovechkin gets the golden goal to put him all alone in fourth place, he will need just 24 to catch Jaromir Jagr, 59 to Gordie Howe and 152 to Wayne Gretzky. As Ovechkin continues to score, the question starts to become not if but when Ovechkin will break the record.