Alex Ovechkin will be player to watch against Jets

The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets take on each other tonight. Puck drop is coming soon as I’m writing this. As far as players to watch tonight look no further than the great eight himself, Alex Ovechkin.

Alex Ovechkin is four goals away from 800. He’s recorded 94 points in 69 career games against the Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers with 50 goals and 44 assists, tied for the most goals he has scored against a single franchise (Tampa Bay Lightning). It also marks the second most points he has against a single opponent (Carolina Hurricanes: 99).

Ovechkin scored an empty net goal on Friday night against the Seattle Kraken, marking the 796th career goal. It also marked Ovechkin’s 500th career even strength goal and he has become the fourth player in NHL history to reach the mark.

Wayne Gretzky finished with 617 goals at even strength. Gordie Howe has 566. Jaromir Jagr has 538.

Ovechkin needs four goals to become the third player in NHL history to score 800 career goals and six goals shy of passing Howe (801) for second on the NHL’s all time goals list.

Ovechkin (currently) at 160 games played) can require the fewest games between milestone goals 700 and 800 and become the first to make the jump in fewer than 200 contests.

After reaching the 700 goal milestone on Feb. 22, 2020 against the New Jersey Devils, the Capitals’ captain has found the back of the net 96 times since, an average of 0.61 goals per game over that span which matches his overall career average.

Gretzky’s goals per game rate from number 700 to 800 was 0.44 while Howe’s was 0.39.

Ovechkin ranks first in NHL history in power play goals with 291 and overtime goals with 25 while second in game winning goals with 124 and multi goal games with 161 whole fourth in even strength goals with 500.

Ovechkin is also one game opening goal shy of passing Jaromir Jagr (135) for the most in NHL history.

Ovechkin has recorded 29 points in 29 games this season with 16 goals and 13 assists, leading the Capitals. Ovechkin has recorded 15 points in his last 11 games with eight goals and seven assists, which includes seven multi point efforts during that stretch.

Ovechkin’s 16 goals this season rank tied for eighth in the NHL through games played Dec. 9. Ovechkin is one of two players over the age of 29 to rank in the top 10 in NHL scoring. Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the other.

Ovechkin is on pace to score 45 goals this season. Statistical information was provided by NHL Stats. Could tonight be the night he reaches 800? Tune in at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington to find out.