Alex Ovechkin scores his 802nd career goal, surpassing hockey legend Gordie Howe at 2nd all-time

Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has surpassed Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers legend Gordie Howe to maneuver to second on the NHL’s all-time aim scoring listing.

The Russian-born ahead scored two objectives in his staff’s sport towards the Winnipeg Jets. The first got here by way of a wrist shot that went by the legs of Jets goaltender David Rittich with assists going to Dylan Strome and Conor Sheary with 1:38 remaining within the first interval. 

The second got here on an empty web with the help credited to Evgeny Kuznetsov with 1:00 remaining within the third interval.

With this aim, Ovechkin now sits solely behind hockey’s biggest participant – Wayne Gretzky – for probably the most objectives ever scored within the league.

Washington Capitals ahead Alexander Ovechkin has now scored 801 objectives in his career

This aim ties him with Gordie Howe (above) for 2nd all-time & 92 objectives behind Wayne Gretzky

He was mobbed by teammates at the glass to have a good time whereas his aim music, Big Joe Turner’s ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll,’ blared from enviornment audio system. Fans chanted, ‘Ovi! Ovi! Ovi’ and gave him a standing ovation throughout the subsequent stoppage when Ovechkin was honored for his newest accomplishment.

Ovechkin ended a four-game aim drought and matched Howe greater than per week since changing into the third participant to succeed in 800.

‘Everybody proper now get pleasure from this trip,’ Ovechkin mentioned final week. ‘It’s nice for all of us to have the ability to get to 800, the third participant ever to try this, and be on the identical staff I feel it´s fairly cool. It´s fairly particular for them.’

Ovechkin (heart) has now racked up 22 objectives and 19 assists for 41 factors in 35 video games

His subsequent aim will give him sole possession of second place and put Ovechkin 92 away from tying Wayne Gretzky´s document of 894 that lengthy appeared unapproachable.

‘What he´s executed yr after yr, the consistency, and him having the ability to produce the best way he´s constantly executed, it´s fairly exceptional,’ mentioned Toronto star Auston Matthews, the NHL’s reigning MVP who scored 60 objectives final season. ‘Every yr he at all times performs each sport prefer it´s his final. He´s only a horse on the market. He loves to attain objectives, and I feel that´s been fairly evident all through his career. You can simply inform.’

And Ovechkin doesn’t intend on stopping any time quickly. He’s signed for 3 extra years after this season in hopes of surpassing 894 objectives.

‘He scores in bunches greater than anybody ever, and that´s in all probability why he’s the place he’s proper now,’ Washington defenseman John Carlson mentioned. ‘This historical past, the individuals (he is passing), you´re like, holy smokes, you get to play with a man for 13 years that’s beating these guys within the historical past books. It’s fairly cool stuff.’

Ovechkin scored on David Rittich, the 166th goaltender he is put the puck previous in his career

It was Ovechkin’s 52nd aim – probably the most of any opponent – in 71 video games towards the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise. He additionally scored his 600th aim at residence towards Winnipeg.

Jets affiliate coach Scott Arniel, who spent the earlier 4 seasons as a Capitals, assistant, mentioned he discovered rapidly that Ovechkin ‘does not cease.’

‘He´s such a pushed man when he goes out to play,’ Arniel mentioned. ‘(He is just not) only a slap shot, one-timer man standing on the facet on the facility play. I noticed all of the objectives he scored standing in entrance of the online. Even the hat trick he received in Chicago, all three have been proper there. He´s executed lots of that as nicely.’

Ovechkin scored in his first sport dealing with Rittich, who turned the 166th NHL goaltender he has overwhelmed for a aim throughout his 18-year career.