NoVa Caps Looks Back at the Top Moments of ’15-’16: #3 Caps Comeback at MSG, Ovechkin Nets 499th Career Goal and OT Game Winning Goal!

Photo: Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

Each week over the course of 10 weeks, NoVa Caps’ contributor Michael Marzzacco will take a look back at what he believes were the Top 10 Moments of the 2015-2016 Washington Capitals’ season.

#3: Capitals vs. Rangers & Alex Ovechkin’s 499^th Career Goal – January 9, 2016

The Capitals were set to play their first set of back-to-back games on the second weekend of January, 2016. Alex Ovechkin needed just three more goals to get to 500 in his career and to join a very prestigious list of 42 others. When Alex would leave The Garden, he’d only need one more! You can check out the NoVa Caps’ game re-cap by clicking here.

Ovechkin’s 498^th career goal and first goal of the night came in the first period on the power play. As Dan Girardi was behind the net, he made an errant pass, Ovi intercepted the puck and made them pay. The goal came with 15 seconds left in the opening period.

The Caps went up 2-0 in the second on a breakaway goal by Justin Williams. The Rangers rallied with three goals in the third period by Oscar Lindberg, Kevin Hayes, and Viktor Stalberg. Trailing 3-2 with under a minute left, the Caps stayed poised and tied the game with 5.7 seconds left on a goal by Nicklas Backstrom.

Throwback: This wasn’t the first time the Caps beat the buzzer at MSG – here is a beautiful sequence by Ovechkin, Backstrom and Ward:

God bless Joel Ward !!!!! #Caps #Capitals #CapsNYR

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 1, 2015

In overtime Braden Holtby made a spectacular save and the Caps scored on the transition. Ovechkin went the length of the ice and netted his 499^th goal – along with the overtime win!

This. Is. Ridiculous. #WSHvsNYR https://t.co/8iHFE91dGe

— NHL (@NHL) January 9, 2016

With his 499^th goal being the game winner, it gave Alex Ovechkin the golden opportunity to get his 500^th goal the very next night, on home ice, in front of all the passionate Caps fans. I personally remember running around my basement screaming after his overtime goal! I was so excited, because I had tickets to the game the next night.

Alex Ovechkin shreds Rangers for incredible OT goal, No. 499 (Video) https://t.co/eZQfINAHs4 via @YahooSports #Capitals #NHL #NYRangers

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 9, 2016

In case you missed the other seven moments you can take a look by clicking below:

#10: Kuzy’s Hat Trick
#9: Blowout at The Garden
#8: Justin William’s Hat Trick
#7: Orlov “The Magician” Puts On a Show
#6: 2015-2016 Season Opener and Ovi Hits the Top Shelf!
#5: Kuzy Sauce!
#4: TJ’s Hat Trick and Game Winning OT Goal!

By Michael Marzzacco

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