Alex Ovechkin achieves more history with another 30 goal season

The Washington Capitals got a huge 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings with Alex Ovechkin scoring what turned out to be the game winning goal. But even before then we were all in LALA land as we witnessed greatness once again on the national stage from the great eight.

Ovechkin was projected earlier in the season to finish with 16 goals because of his slowest start to the season ever. But since the All Star break Ovi has been the hottest player in hockey. His in game adjustments, Dylan Strome's resiliience and Charlie Lindgren's MVP play in net have been his supporting cast as they may be without Nicklas Backstrom, who's been away from hockey since November but still shows up and shows out to the pregame ceremonies.

Ovechkin now has 18 30 goal seasons in his storied career and he has passed former Capital Mike Gartner for the most 30 goal seasons in NHL history. He's now just the sixth differerent player in NHL history to begin a sason at age 38 or older and score 30 goals, joining Gordie Howe (three times), Johnny Bucyk (two times), Brett Hull, Teemu Selanne and Martin St. Louis.

Ovechkin has now scored 22 goals in his last 32 games averaging 0.69 goals per game, a very nice scoring pace as he is now 42 away from tying and 43 away from passing Wayne Gretzky for number one all time in the NHL in goal scoring.

Ovechkin was all business as usual when he met with the media after the game:

"We all understand the importance of the game, importance of the two points. I think we fight for the playoffs, they fight. I think it was a pretty intense game and both teams have pretty good chances. Both goalies played well, solid."

We are so lucky to watch gre8ness night after night. We gotta appreciate Ovechkin while it lasts because he truly did help save the game of hockey when the NHL needed saving the most.

What Ovechkin has done for the game of hockey as well as the DMV area may never be matched.