Alex Ovechkin is a good fantasy start vs Bruins

If you’re playing fantasy hockey and are lucky enough to have any Washington Capitals fantasy players on your roster, Alex Ovechkin is the best player to start tonight. Here’s why.

Ovechkin loves the spotlight and the entire hockey world will be watching tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins as the game will be broadcasted on TNT.

Last season’s opening night saw Ovechkin record four points with two goals and a pair of assists. That night included his 731st and 732nd career goals which moved him past Marcel Dionne (730 goals) for the fifth most goals in NHL history.

Sitting at third all time now after passing a few others players, only Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky are in his sights.

In 17 season opening games, Ovechkin has recorded 24 points with 13 goals and 11 assists. His 13 goals in season openers are the most among active players.

Only two players in NHL history have scored 14 career goals in their team’s season opening games. Those players are Michel Goulet in 13 games played and Dino Ciccarelli in 16 games played.

I’m not the only one. ESPN Fantasy had their team previews article out and they said this particular thing about Ovechkin and the Caps:

Alex Ovechkin is up against it now. He’s entering his age-37 season, which means for almost any other player on the planet, you’d get ready to be disappointed. But Ovie is Ovie. Coming off another 50-goal campaign, the expectation is that he can become the 13th player in the past seven years age 37 or older to finish among the top 144 forwards for fantasy points. In fact, he’ll probably finish near the top again.

Of course, age and Father Time are dangerous as Ovechkin just turned 37 last month. But he has shown time and time again that he is built to defy that.

Will he have another 50 goal season up his sleeve? Probably. More likely this year than he will next year. Even if he finishes in the 40s that’s still pretty good.

One year ago 33 was the magic number after he signed his five year contract extension. Because of that 50 goal season, that magic number has lowered to 29. That’s how much the great eight needs the next four seasons to catch the great one.

He needs just 22 to pass Gordie Howe for second place all time in goals scored. A season where he would finish with just 22 would be a disappointment for a guy like Ovi but if he keeps up his work ethic, I could see another 40-50 goal season from him this year.