Dealing with a lower-body injury, Washington Capitals star winger Alex Ovechkin wasn’t even supposed to be on the ice for the 2021-22 season opener against the New York Rangers. But he managed to be cleared in time to start and used the opportunity to make some NHL history in the process.
Ovechkin scored twice to help the Capitals seal a 5-1 win over the Rangers and managed to advance on the NHL’s career goals all-time list. The 36-year-old legend now has 732 goals in the NHL, which was enough for him to break a tie with Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne and sit alone at the 5th spot. He now needs only 10 more goals to jump over another Hall of Famer, Brett Hull, who is on fourth with 741 goals.
“I just enjoy my time. Of course, it’s a huge privilege being on that list, but as I say all the time: Game-by-game, day-by-day,” said Ovechkin when asked about his achievement after the game.
Washington’s head coach Peter Laviolette also had a reason for celebration on Wednesday night. The win over the Rangers was Laviolette’s 674th win in the NHL. This is now most by an American-born head coach in the league history.
