I am honestly starting to run out of words to describe Alex Ovechkin. At 36-years-old, Ovechkin continues to defy the typical NHL aging curve as he chases down Wayne Gretzky’s elusive goals record at a breakneck pace.
On Monday, Ovechkin added yet another goal to his total with No. 741 in his career, tying Brett Hull for fourth place all time in NHL history in goals scored. Against the Buffalo Sabres, Ovechkin added to the Washington Capitals’ lead with a deflection shot that was originally credited to Dmitry Orlov, but was given to the team captain after the fact.
While it may not be the typical goal you see from Ovechkin — his famous one-timer from his office in the circle — this greasy hockey tally helped to put him back on top of the NHL goals leaderboard for the season.
Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) just tied Brett Hull for fourth on the NHL all-time goals list with 741… 😳 pic.twitter.com/XSMMPnlNqd
— NHL (@NHL) November 9, 2021
With that goal, Ovechkin now has 11 on the year in 12 games and has overtaken 26-year-old Leon Draisaitl for top scorer in the NHL as well. This is, without a doubt, one of the best starts to a season Ovechkin has ever had in his career. While Ovechkin’s shooting percentage of 18 percent will likely regress back down just a bit, he is on a 75-goal pace this season, something not many thought possible at his age.
Year after year, Ovechkin continues to find another gear to push himself further. Now just 153 goals away from tying Gretzky, history continues to be made in front of our very eyes.
It’s hard not to think of what could have been for Ovechkin over his career had two lockouts and two COVID-shortened seasons not taken away at least 100 games from him. Not only that, Ovechkin has hardly ever missed time in his career due to injury, making his run as the best goal scorer in modern NHL history even more impressive.
In short order, Ovechkin will pass Hull to take over sole possession of fourth place all-time in the NHL record books. At 766 goals, the great Jaromir Jagr awaits his turn for Ovechkin to pass him, a mark that very likely will be hit this season. Ovechkin still has so much more hockey to be played ahead of him and I, for one, cannot wait to see where it takes him.
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