Alex Ovechkin scored his 49th goal of the season in the second period and kept the number 50 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
After scoring a breakaway late in the third period, Ovechkin took a pass from Dmitry Orlov, landed on the moon and blasted one of the hardest shots of his career past Logan Thompson for the milestone goal. NBC Sports Washington reported that Ovechkin’s slap shot went 101 MPH.
MOAR HISTORY!
The game took place at the T-Mobile Arena, but after the goal there was a loud Ovi chant from traveling Caps fans.
Loud Ovi singing in the T-Mobile Arena
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) April 21, 2022
Ovechkin’s first goal of the night set a new season record for goals by a player aged 36 and over (49). Now he is the first player ever aged 36 or older to score 50 points.
This is the ninth time Ovechkin has scored 50 goals in his career, tying him with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for all-time most goals.
Alex Ovechkin scores his second goal of the game and 50th of the season in a 3-3 draw. It marks Ovechkin’s ninth 50-goal season, tying him with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the most in NHL history. pic.twitter.com/P7JZShZQzn
– CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 21, 2022
Bossy, who recently passed away, scored 50 points in nine straight seasons to start his career. He retired after his 10th in the NHL.
With his 780th goal, Ovechkin is now 21 behind second-place finisher Gordie Howe (801) and 114 behind record holder Wayne Gretzky (894).
The goal earned Ovi 1,410 points and officially placed him in the top 20 for all points.
Ovechkin’s 50th goal of the season marked his 1,410. Career point (780g, 630a) and put it past Dale Hawerchuk for the 20th most points in NHL history.
– CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 21, 2022
Wow.
🚨 it was worth staying up for pic.twitter.com/UUKZPgIDM6
— x — Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 21, 2022
The Capitals issued a press release about Ovi turning 50:
Alex Ovechkin sets an NHL record with 50 goals in his ninth career season
Ovechkin is the only player along with Wayne Gretzky and the late Mike Bossy to have accomplished this feat
ARLINGTON, Va.— Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 780th career goal and 50th goal of the season Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena to reach the 50-goal milestone for the ninth time in his career, with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy most connected in NHL history.
Ovechkin also became the first player aged 36 or older in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season. Ovechkin and Bossy are the only two players to have nine 50-goal seasons with a team (Bossy: New York Islanders). Since Ovechkin came to the NHL in 2005-06, no other player has had more than two seasons with 50 goals. This season, Ovechkin is third in the NHL with 50 goals.
On March 15, against the New York Islanders, Ovechkin passed Jaromir Jagr (766 g) to alone rank third in the NHL’s all-time goals list. Ovechkin passed Jagr in 477 fewer games played to become the NHL’s all-time European goalscorer. Along with Jagr, Ovechkin has overtaken Marcel Dionne (731) and Brett Hull (741) on the all-time goals list this season.
Ovechkin is averaging 0.61 goals per game at this point in his career, ranking fourth in NHL history (at least 500 games played). In addition, Ovechkin has the second-best scoring average in the NHL (.59) since his 30th birthday on September 17, 2015 (Toronto’s Auston Matthews: .64 goals per game). That’s the fourth highest goals per game by a player in their 30s in NHL history, behind only Newsy Lalonde (1.26 goals per game from 1917-22, 1926-27), Bobby Hull (0.62 goals per game from 1968 – 72, 1979-80) and Mario Lemieux (1995-97, 2000-06). Gordie Howe averaged .42 goals per game in his 30s, while Gretzky averaged .34 goals, the only two players ahead of Ovechkin on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
Ovechkin was selected as the overall pick by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft. Ovechkin has 1,410 points (780 g, 630 a) in 1,272 career games with Washington. Ovechkin ranks first in franchise history in goals (780), points (1,410), power play goals (285), winning goals (121), overtime goals (24), shots (6,054), and plays with several goals (158). ).
Since joining the NHL at the start of the 2005-06 season, Ovechkin has led the NHL in goals (780), points (1,410), power play goals (285), power play points (528), and game-winning goals (121). ). Additionally, Ovechkin has led the NHL since 1982-83, although he began his NHL career in 2005. He is the only player in the NHL to have scored 30 goals or more in 16 of the last 17 seasons. He has held a 265-goal lead over the next player since 2005/06.
During his career, Ovechkin has won a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy, Calder Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, three Hart Memorial Trophy, three Ted Lindsay Awards, and nine Maurice Richard Trophy. He is the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Calder, Art Ross, Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Maurice Richard Trophy.