All it took was one face off.
Late in the third period in a tie game between the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, Evgeny Kuznetsov won the draw. The puck went to the only rightful player and Alex Ovechkin let it rip to bring the house down.
Teammates mobbed the great eight as Big Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” was blaring on the speakers. Pure bedlam on the ice and in the stands, especially for a Tuesday night in March.
The goal was not just Ovechkin’s 37th of the season, it was the 767th of his career. He passed Jaromir Jagr for third place on the NHL’s all time goal scoring list. Only Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky are left in his sights.
It took Ovechkin 477 fewer games to pass Jagr and now he is the NHL’s all time European goal scorer. Earlier this season, Ovechkin started his journey passing Marcel Dionne (731) and Brett Hull (741) on the all time goals list. The great eight has averaged 0.61 goals per game at this point in his career, ranking fourth in NHL history (minimum 400 games played).
In addition, Ovechkin owns the NHL’s second best goals per game rate (0.59) since his 30th birthday on September 17, 2015. The first is Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs at 0.62 goals per game.
0.59 is tied for the fourth highest goals per game rate by a player in his 30s in NHL history, only behind Newsy Lalonde (1.26 goals per game from 1917-22, 1926-27), Bobby Hull (0.62 goals per game from 1968-72, 1979-80) and Mario Lemieux (1995-97, 2000-06). Howe averaged 0.42 goals per game in his 30s while Gretzky averaged 0.34.
Ovechkin told reporters after the game, which the Caps prevailed 4-3 in the shootout:
"“I’m happy being the first European player all of time on goals, Russian-born player. It’s pretty cool. Pass all those names, legends — it’s history. It’s gonna be forever. Hope somebody gonna break my record and we will see.”"
I knew Ovechkin was going to be special from the moment he scored his first goal. Did I know 766 goals later he would be third passing a former Capital? I didn’t. But this journey he has taken us on has not only brought joy into our lives but inspired the next generation to live out their dreams too.
We are truly lucky and witnesses to see Ovechkin play hockey night in and night out. Enjoy each moment and each goal because whether he passes Gretzky or not, the end is almost near. Unless he (hopefully) a Tom Brady.