“We have been privileged for 13 years to watch the best goal scorer of our generation.” That was how the radio voice of the Washington Capitals, John Walton described an incredible moment for one of the best players to ever don a Capitals sweater. On a blustery Monday night in Washington, D.C., Alex Ovechkin added another milestone to his already impressive resume scoring his 600th career goal. 

Ovechkin entered Monday’s game needing just two goals to reach the number 600. He struck first at 4:35 in the opening period on the power play on a quick snipe from the office for 599.

“How we started the game today, I think our line was felling it. Kuzy (Evgeny Kuznetsov) and Willy (Tom Wilson) were flying, I knew they were gonna try and find me over there and when you play like that you enjoy it, you have fun,” said Ovechkin.

In the second period in a 1-1 game, Matt Niskanen flung a pass down near the net and Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson each tried but failed to put the puck past Connor Hellebuyck. Wilson though hesitated for a brief second and lightly tapped the puck to Ovechkin.  Ovechkin then made a diving Hellebuyck pay on his second try to net his 600th.

“Of course it’s special. Of course you want to do it more and more. It’s 600 now you have to score another one to make it 601 but again you don’t have to think about it. Of course you think about it when I scored 599 like ‘okay I still have to make a push two periods, I have to get my chances’ and finally I scored right away,” said Ovechkin.

The radio call from John Walton:

Ovechkin became the fourth fastest player in NHL history to score 600 goals, doing so in his 990th NHL game trailing Wayne Gretzky (718 games), Mario Lemieux (719) and Brett Hull (900). Ovechkin is also the 20th player in NHL history to reach the 600-goal club.

“He’s the best goal scorer of maybe all time so I mean, it’s on us if we don’t get him the puck. It’s a little bit of pressure definitely but you just go out there and play your game and it’s one of those things that’s just gonna happen. He’s too good not to hit that milestone so it’s a relief that it’s over and like I said, we can work on whatever next milestone is coming for him,” said Tom Wilson.

The Capitals went on to win the game in overtime 3-2 with a game-winning goal by Kuznetsov.

“When you score a big number, you just go ‘okay it’s over’. You have to move forward. Of course right now I’m going to enjoy the time and go home, relax and just enjoy it. Tomorrow’s a new day,” said Ovechkin.

Now that Ovechkin has reached the 600-goal milestone, the “Great Eight” and the Capitals will now shift their focus toward the home stretch of the regular season and then ultimately the playoffs. Ovechkin already has his eyes on the prize.

“Finally it’s over and now we’re gonna talk about hockey and not numbers,” said Ovechkin.

NoVa Caps congratulates Alex Ovechkin on 600 goals!

By Michael Marzzacco

Legend. @Ovi8 #Gr8 #600VI #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/xhp7TcuUKw

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 13, 2018