WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin reached 30 goals in a season for the 19th time in his 20-year NHL career, adding to the league record he set last season with his 18th.
The Washington Capitals captain notched his latest milestone goal Tuesday night at home against the Calgary Flames in a 3-1 loss. He beat Dan Vladar with a one-timer on the power play 4:52 into the third period, sending the crowd into chants of “Ovi! Ovi!”
Ovechkin joined Teemu Selanne, Johnny Bucyk and Gordie Howe (who did it three times) as the only players in hockey history to score 30-plus goals in a season at age 39 or older.
Scoring his 883rd career goal also puts Ovechkin 12 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 that had long seemed unapproachable. Adding this to his hat trick Sunday against Edmonton, Ovechkin is now on pace to pass Gretzky in early April long before the regular season is over.
Since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, Ovechkin has four goals in three games for the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals, who, despite Tuesday’s loss, are 4-2 in their last six contests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This post was originally published on this site