Alex Ovechkin extended two of his NHL records with his final-minute tally against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
After taking a pass from Anthony Beauvillier in the defensive zone, Ovechkin sent a shot from the side boards into the Hurricanes’ empty net 143 feet away.
The tally extended Ovechkin’s NHL goals record to 901 and his empty-net goal record to 66. Perhaps even more eyebrow-raising, Ovechkin is now 99 goals away from 1,000 in his career. Double digits away!
The tally marked Ovechkin’s fourth goal in 16 games this fall. In his age-40 season, he’s now on pace to score 21 times.
Ovechkin also earned a primary assist in the Capitals’ 4-1 win, springing Dylan Strome on a semi-breakaway that turned into the game-winning goal.
The multi-point game (1g, 1a) was Ovechkin’s fourth of the season, tying him for the most on the Capitals. Ovechkin’s 1,635 points puts him seven points shy of Joe Sakic for 10th on the NHL’s all-time points list.